Abstract

This project intends to analyze the overwhelming support Donald Trump garnered from Evangelical Americans during the 2016 presidential election. It is proposed that Trump achieved this using an augmented version of Christianity alongside the use of rhetorical tools to specifically gain the support of the Evangelical right. The project isolates and unpacks two identity models, that of the protector and the provider, which emerge as a result of the patriarchal nature of Evangelical Christianity. It is argued that Trump used these models to gain the voter support of a population that, at first glance, would not be assumed supporters. The Protector stands as a model for the strong male image that has permeated through the American psyche, the man who is able to care for his home, family, and community. The Provider is a model for the economic power a man should hold in order to be able support his family. These models are broken down to understand their origin, persistence in political culture, and how they worked to create the perfect environment for Trump to exploit what they mean to the Evangelical community. This project will explore how Trump was able to prime this audience, despite not possessing any of the actual values the models allowed him to project.

Advisor

Rapport, Jeremy

Department

Religious Studies

Disciplines

American Politics | Christianity

Keywords

donald trump, evangelical right, patriarchal christianity, hillary clinton, republican, christian, jesus

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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