Donald Trump was the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. His religious affiliation and beliefs have been a topic of much discussion and speculation over the years. Trump was raised as a Presbyterian Christian, but his specific religious views as an adult have been hard to pin down.
He has made varying claims about his denomination and religious practices throughout his public life. Nonetheless, Trump made frequent appeals to religious conservatives during his political campaigns and presidency.
What Church Does Donald Trump Attend?
Donald Trump was born and raised in the Presbyterian tradition. His parents were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens where Trump attended Sunday school as a child.
As an adult living in New York, Trump has stated that he is a member of the Marble Collegiate Church, a Reformed Protestant congregation in Manhattan. He has also claimed affiliation with the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church located in midtown.
However, Trump has not been known as a regular churchgoer. During his presidency, he preferred to watch church services on TV rather than attend in person. He has visited churches occasionally, including for funerals, weddings, holidays and other special events.
Notable Details About Trump’s Church Attendance and Religious Affiliations
- Trump married his first wife Ivana at the Marble Collegiate Church in 1977, although neither were regular members.
- Their three children were baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, in keeping with Trump family tradition.
- Trump’s second wedding to Marla Maples took place at the Plaza Hotel, not in a church.
- He attended services at Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida for Easter and Christmas while in office.
- Trump unexpectedly visited the McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia in 2019 where pastor David Platt prayed for him.
- As president, Trump more routinely attended religious services at the Washington National Cathedral for funerals and special occasions.
What Denomination is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump was raised as a Presbyterian, a branch of Calvinist Protestant Christianity. The Presbyterian Church traces its origins back to reforms initiated by John Calvin in the 16th century.
Presbyterians have a representative form of church governance led by elected elders alongside ordained ministers. They emphasize preaching, Scripture and glorifying God in worship. Salvation is achieved through faith alone.
The Presbyterian denomination that Trump grew up in was the old Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA) which merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA) in 1958 to form today’s PCUSA.
However, Trump has made varying statements about his affiliation as an adult:
- He stated he joined the Marble Collegiate Church which is affiliated with two denominations: the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ.
- Trump said he attends the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church which belongs to the more conservative PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) denomination.
- At other times, he has simply identified as “Protestant” or “Christian” without naming a specific denomination.
Mainline vs Evangelical Presbyterian Churches
- The PCUSA is a mainline denomination. Mainline Protestants tend to be more liberal in theology and politics.
- The PCA split from the mainline PCUSA in the 1970s over doctrinal differences and is evangelical.
- Evangelical Presbyterians place greater emphasis on the authority of Scripture and tend to be more conservative.
So while Trump was born into mainline Presbyterianism, he has leaned towards evangelical Presbyterians in adulthood.
Donald Trump an Evangelical Christian
Donald Trump has frequently identified as an evangelical Christian and made overt appeals to evangelical voters during his presidential campaigns. About 80% of white evangelicals voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.
What is an Evangelical?
Evangelicalism is a Protestant movement that emphasizes these core beliefs:
- Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone
- The truth of Christian faith is revealed in the Bible’s infallible Scriptures
- All believers have a duty to spread the Christian gospel
Trump has proclaimed evangelical catchphrases like “born again” and cited Bible verses to appeal to this demographic. He allowed evangelical leaders to pray over and counsel him in office. He also promoted evangelical social stances against abortion and gay marriage.
However, Trump does not match the personal behavior typically expected of evangelicals. He is not known for church attendance, mission work, charity, or other hallmarks of mainstream evangelicalism. Due to his profane language and unorthodox personal life, Trump has been called a “heathen” by critics.
Why Do Many Evangelicals Support Trump?
While Trump may not perfectly fit the evangelical mold, he championed causes important to evangelicals:
- Nominating conservative pro-life judges
- Defending religious freedom exemptions
- Opposing abortion and gay rights
- Safeguarding Israel
- Promoting public Christianity, e.g. saying “Merry Christmas”
So politically, Trump aligned with evangelical priorities even if his personal life did not necessarily embody their faith.
What are Donald Trump’s Religious Beliefs?
Donald Trump has expressed various religious beliefs over the years that appear influenced by Prosperity Gospel and Positive Thinking philosophies. Prosperity theology claims material wealth and health are divine blessings for righteous living and donations. Positive Thinking emphasizes using mental self-discipline to achieve success.
Here are some key examples of Trump’s personal religious views:
- Wealth signified God’s favor: Trump said his riches proved God supported him and his Christian commitment.
- Health comes through faith: Trump avoided alcohol or cigarettes and attributed his good health to God as a reward for his faith.
- Positive mental attitude: Trump emphasized the power of positive thinking and self-affirmations to achieve goals.
- Minimal need for forgiveness: Trump said he tries not to do bad things that require forgiveness. He couldn’t recall ever asking God for forgiveness.
- Self-described as “chosen one”: Trump described himself as the “chosen one” meant to fight China in the trade war.
Critics note these ideas diverge from traditional Christian tenets like human fallibility, need for repentance, divine grace, and poverty relief. Overall, Trump seems to hold generalized Christian-adjacent religious beliefs layered with prosperity and positive thinking concepts.
Does Donald Trump Read the Bible?
Trump does not appear to regularly read the Christian Bible but sees it as an important cultural symbol. He has posed in photos holding a Bible but seemed unfamiliar when asked to quote his favorite verses. When publicly testifying to his Christian faith, Trump more often cites churches he attends rather than Bible passages he studies. Overall, Scripture reading does not seem to be a big part of Trump’s personal religious practice.
Donald Trump Changed Religions?
Donald Trump has identified with different denominations over time, but has not strictly changed established religions per se. Here is an overview:
- Born and raised Presbyterian: Trump grew up attending First Presbyterian Church with his family. His mother was particularly devoted to their Presbyterian tradition.
- No formal conversion experience: Trump has not recounted a “born again” moment marking a shift between faiths. His changes affiliations seem political and incremental.
- Different Presbyterian branches: In adulthood, Trump shifted from mainline to evangelical Presbyterian churches. This move matches his political change from liberal to conservative.
- Broader Christian labels: Trump also began calling himself a Protestant or Christian without Presbyterian specificity. This expands his appeal among Christians.
- No history with non-Christian faiths: Trump has no meaningful history with non-Christian religions. While he married two Catholics, he did not convert at those times.
So while Trump has floated between denominations and downplayed his Presbyterianism, he has stayed within Christianity rather than switching to a new religion altogether. The flexibility allows Trump to identify broadly as a Christian to his base.
What Was Donald Trump’s Religion Before Christianity?
Donald Trump has identified as a Christian for his entire public life. There are no records of him practicing a different religion prior to Christianity. Here is what we know about his pre-Christian religious life:
- Presbyterian from childhood: Trump was baptized, confirmed, and regularly attended church as a child until age 18. This makes Christianity his only known religious practice while young.
- Non-religious in early adulthood: In his 20s, Trump was not a regular churchgoer while focused on his real estate career. But he still identified as Christian culturally if not devoutly.
- No previous faith conversions: Unlike many evangelicals, Trump has not claimed any dramatic conversion from another belief system to Christianity.
- No connection to family religions: Trump’s parents and grandparents were Protestant Christians without ties to other faith traditions before their arrival in the U.S.
- No New Age or occult history: Some biographers have tried to link Trump to New Age thinkers or esoteric philosophies without evidence. These speculative connections lack substantiation.
Conclusion
In summary, Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian Christian tradition and has maintained a Christian identity throughout his life. However, his specific denominational affiliations, church attendance, theological beliefs and religious practices have varied over time and do not fit squarely into any one branch of Christianity.
Trump attended mainline Presbyterian churches as a child but gravitated towards evangelical Presbyterian congregations as an adult. He has blurred denominational lines to present himself as a broad Protestant or Christian when politically expedient. While open about his Christian identity, Trump is not known to be devout in private spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer or worship.
The president appealed to evangelicals by positioning himself as a defender of religious liberty and Christian values in the public sphere. But his personal religious beliefs exhibit an ad hoc style that melds basic Christian tenets with prosperity gospel concepts and positive thinking philosophy. Overall, Christianity has been more of a social and political identity for Donald Trump than a theological system or spiritual community.
FAQs
Is Donald Trump Catholic?
Donald Trump himself has never been Catholic. He was raised and remained within Protestant Christianity. Trump did marry two Catholics – Ivana Zelníčková and Melania Knauss. But he did not convert to Catholicism himself.
What church did Donald Trump get married in?
Donald Trump has been married three times. He married his first wife Ivana Zelníčková in 1977 at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. He married his second wife Marla Maples in 1993 at the Plaza Hotel in a civil ceremony. Trump married Melania Knauss, later Melania Trump, in 2005 at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida.
Did Donald Trump convert to Judaism?
Donald Trump has never converted to Judaism. He was raised Christian and has identified as Protestant or Christian his entire life. Trump’s father Fred Trump was of German Lutheran descent. His mother Mary Anne MacLeod was Scottish Presbyterian. Trump did have a Jewish daughter-in-law, Vanessa Kay Haydon, who married Donald Jr. But neither Trump nor his children converted.
Is Donald Trump an atheist?
There is no evidence that Donald Trump is an atheist. He was raised as a Christian, still identifies as a Christian, and has consistently expressed belief in God. Trump does not appear to be devout in private spiritual practices and his theological knowledge is lacking. But he has maintained Christian affiliation and made religion a key part of his political identity throughout his public life.
Did Donald Trump swear his oath on the Bible?
Donald Trump swore the presidential oath of office on two Bibles – the same Lincoln Bible used by Barack Obama, and his own childhood Bible given by his mother. Swearing on the Bible is a traditional part of U.S. presidential inaugurations, although technically optional. For Trump, the Bibles held symbolic value but do not confirm devout practice.