Images circulating on social media show a glowing Christ supporting the former U.S. president. Sitting behind his desk, Donald Trump reaches out to Jesus, conveying a clear message: the White House candidate is “protected by the hand of God.” These retouched images emerged the day after the July 13 assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, which resulted in one death and two serious injuries. They rekindled enthusiasm among certain evangelical families who view Trump as the chosen one, the only one fit to occupy the Oval Office.

On the Truth Social network, Trump himself fueled this politico-religious vision a few hours after the shooting: “It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.” Later, he even mentioned that his doctor considered it a “miracle.”

A crucial electorate for Trump

Immediately, numerous evangelical pastors and followers, known for their strong support of the Republican candidate, called for prayers for their favorite candidate and the victim’s family. The involvement of the most conservative evangelicals, who are now highly visible on the American political scene, is relatively recent. Until the mid-20th century, they refrained from engaging in political affairs. Gradually, dominionism, aiming for a nation governed by Christians, emerged. “It was under Donald Trump that they became pillars of the Republicans,” explains Blandine Chelini-Pont, a specialist in American Christian history.

This connection between the former president and the most conservative evangelicals dates back to previous presidential elections. “There was already the idea that Trump was the Lord’s chosen one to become president of the United States,” said the contemporary history professor. Since then, Trump has relied on this loyal electorate, particularly due to his anti-abortion stance. At a “Faith and Freedom Coalition” conference in Washington in late June, he urged evangelical Christian voters to support him even more.

“Elected not by the people but by God”

For Chelini-Pont, the Pennsylvania incident marked a turning point. “Now that he has survived, the belief that he is the chosen one will spread more widely in evangelical circles. For them, it is truly a sign that God is protecting him,” the expert predicted.

The assassination attempt on Trump is perceived by the most conservative members of the electorate as an attack by “evil” against Christianity. Addressing his congregation in Oklahoma, Republican Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of “Pastors for Trump,” spoke of a “spiritual war.” He declared, “Yesterday, we experienced a tragedy, but also a miracle.” Calls for calm were issued by other pastors, mirroring Trump’s own reactions.

Recently, especially on social media, Trump has been compared to various biblical figures: “King Cyrus,” and “Lazarus.” This evokes the origins of American democracy. Before Trump, “the only president or presidential candidate with a Christ-like dimension was Abraham Lincoln after his assassination in 1865,” noted Chelini-Pont. The expert on Christianity in the United States worries about how Trump will leverage this evangelical enthusiasm: “We may see Donald Trump becoming the first king of the United States.”

Religious reactions from the U.S. to the Vatican

The Vatican, without naming the former U.S. president, referred to wounds on “people and democracy, causing suffering and death.”

American rabbis quickly expressed their support for Trump. “We should pray for Trump’s recovery and peace in our nation,” said Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which opposed Trump’s re-election in 2020, called for an end to “hateful and divisive rhetoric.”