How MAGA’s 'religious revolution' masks a 'Christian call for vengeance': conservative

Conservative journalist David French, in his New York Times columns, has often stressed that religion — including Christianity — plays a valuable role in American life. But in his October 16 column, the Never Trump conservative offers a grim critique on the state of U.S. Christianity almost nine months into President Donald Trump's second term.

French, on one hand, laments that many Americans are still turned off to religion in 2025. But he also fears that MAGA converts to evangelical Christianity are embracing a mean-spirited view of faith.

"Despite what you may have heard about the renewal of interest in religion in America," French explains, "we are not experiencing a true revival, at least not yet. Instead, America is closer to a religious revolution, and the difference between revolution and revival is immensely important for the health of our country — and of the Christian church in America. At this point, it's almost beyond debate that something important is stirring in American religion. There is too much data — and too many anecdotes — to ignore."

French argues that "as a Christian who has long lamented the decline of church attendance in the United States," he "should be very happy about" a growing interest in religion on college campuses. But he is worried about MAGA's role in these conversions.

"There is darkness right alongside the light," the conservative columnist warns. "Christians stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Christians have believed and applauded dark prophecies that compare Donald Trump to Jehu, a murderous Old Testament king who commanded the slaughter of the previous queen, Jezebel, and had the severed heads of the previous king's sons brought to him in baskets. Incredibly, Christians are attacking what they call the 'sin of empathy,' warning fellow believers against identifying too much with, say, illegal immigrants, gay people or women who seek abortions. Empathy, in this formulation, can block moral and theological clarity. What's wrong is wrong, and too much empathy will cloud your soul."

French continues, "There was the ReAwaken America tour that crisscrossed America during Joe Biden's presidency, during which angry Christians called for vengeance at sold-out venues from coast to coast. And, as I wrote last month, the (Charlie) Kirk memorial itself mixed calls for love — most notably, Erika Kirk's decision to forgive her husband's killer — with the Trump administration's explicit hate."

French finds the us-versus-them rhetoric of MAGA evangelicals especially troubling.

"Revival begins with the people proclaiming, by word and deed, 'I have sinned,'" French writes. "MAGA Christianity has a different message. It looks at American culture and declares, 'You have sinned.' And it doesn't stop there. It also says, 'We will defeat you.' In its most extreme forms, it also says, 'We will rule over you.' That's not revival; it’s revolution, a religious revolution that seeks to overthrow one political order and replace it with another — one that has echoes of the religious kingdoms of ages past."