March 13, 2026
The resurgence of Christian militarism under President Donald Trump has been not only swift and deep, but even more blasphemous and idolatrous than it was under President George W. Bush.
It was soon after Bush foolishly, needlessly, and unjustly invaded Iraq that I began writing about the subject of Christianity and war. I was appalled at the Christian support I saw for Bush, the Iraq war, the U.S. military, the U.S. global empire of troops and bases, a jingoistic foreign policy, and the warfare state.
Unfortunately, nothing has changed. Trump's military escapades in and around Venezuela and in Iran have turned many conservative Christians into apologists for death and destruction.
Because the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan turned out so badly, with tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers dying in vain and for a lie, suffering traumatic brain injuries, or losing limbs; and because Bush was followed by eight years of President Barack Obama, a Democrat; Christian militarism was somewhat muted for a short time. When Trump was in office the first time, he bombed most of the same countries that Obama did, but did not launch any major military offensives. President Joe Biden conducted military strikes against just five countries, which was fewer than Obama and Trump.
But during Trump's second term, he has already bombed seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, and conducted major military campaigns in Venezuela and Iran. Counting three other countries he bombed during his first term (Afghanistan, Libya, and Pakistan), Trump has bombed ten different countries-more than any other U.S. president. He has also threatened to attack Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Greenland. He has called for an obscene increase in the U.S "defense" budget from $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion.
Tulsi Gabbard, now Trump's director of national intelligence, while campaigning for Trump in 2024, said that "a vote for Donald Trump is a vote to end wars, not start them." On the campaign trail, Trump said: "These globalists want to squander all of America's strength, blood and treasure, chasing monsters and phantoms overseas while keeping us distracted from the havoc they're creating here at home." Yet, Trump, the self-proclaimed "peace president," is on track to be the biggest presidential militarist and warmonger in U.S. history. He betrayed his MAGA supporters who trusted him when he said no more wars, but only a few of them seem to care. Most Republican members of Congress supported Trump's second military action against Iran, just like they supported his first military action against Iran last year, and just like they supported Bush's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many conservative pundits were elated when Trump attacked Iran, especially those associated with Fox News.
But what is even more disturbing is the silence of conservative Christians regarding Trump's militarism, warmongering, and authoritarianism, and in many cases, support for it. Nothing has changed. This resurgence of Christian militarism is still an affront to the Saviour, contrary to Scripture, and a demonstration of the profound ignorance many Christians have of history. The idea that Christians should have anything to do with the military is still illogical, immoral, and unscriptural. And it is still true that if there is any group of people that should be opposed to war, bloodshed, death, destruction, militarism, and the warfare state with its suppression of civil liberties, imperial presidency, government propaganda, and interventionist foreign policy it is Christians, and especially conservative, evangelical, and fundamentalist Christians who claim to strictly follow the dictates of Scripture and worship the Prince of Peace.
The resurgence of Christian militarism that we are experiencing is more blasphemous and idolatrous than it was under Bush because of the messianic adoration that many conservative Christians have of someone who can only be described as profane, authoritarian, egotistical, megalomaniacal, and narcissistic.
Trump is so beloved in the eyes of conservative Christians, first of all, because he is a Republican. Conservative Christians have an unseemly affinity with the Republican party, with some of them believing that it is God's Own Party. Second, and this is the strongest thing that Trump has going for him, because he is not Joe Biden-a despicable individual who was one of the worst presidents in history. Third, because Trump appointed three "conservative" justices to the Supreme Court, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Fourth, because Trump has waged war on DEI policies, transgenderism, and "wokeness," which, and rightly so, are loathed by conservative Christians. Fifth, because Trump is a slavish supporter of Israel, although he is bought and paid for by the Israel lobby. Conservative Christians blindly support almost everything that the state of Israel does, confounding the government of Israel with the people of Israel. And sixth, because Trump likes to showcase the military and wants to vastly increase its budget. Conservative Christians have an unholy alliance with the military.
Conservative Christians who support Trump's military actions because they think the troops are defending our freedoms are deluded, as are those who defend Trump's military actions because we should always support the troops. Conservative Christians who do these things are apologists for war, bloodshed, death, and destruction.