Divided Evangelicals Criticize Trump’s Iran War and Immigration Policies

A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that about half of evangelical Christians – a significant part of President Donald Trump’s base – believe his administration’s approach to the Iran war and immigration enforcement is not aligned with their understanding of Christianity. This group helped secure the Republicans’ 2024 election victory, and they are crucial for the party in upcoming November midterm elections.

In the June 3-8 poll, 54% of evangelicals said Trump’s military use in Iran was not consistent with Christian values, while 41% disagreed. Similarly, 51% believed immigration policy wasn’t aligned with Christian principles, compared to 44% who agreed. Overall, Trump’s approval rating among evangelicals is 52%, down from 61% in August but still high at 35% for all US adults.

His approval has dropped as the unpopular Iran war raised gas prices sharply. During his first term, Trump secured a conservative Supreme Court majority that overturned abortion rights nationwide. In his second term, he invited faith leaders to the Oval Office and allowed religious promotion at work.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Trump defended religious rights and pardoned anti-abortion activists convicted of crimes. “There has never been a greater president for Christian Americans than President Trump,” she stated.

However, some evangelicals are disillusioned. Sandy Miller, 63, from Indiana, wouldn’t vote for Trump again if given the chance. She cited her faith as the main reason, saying Trump doesn’t always show his Christian values and that war isn’t always the answer.

The poll surveyed 4,531 US adults nationwide with a margin of error of 2 percentage points. The Iran-Iraq conflict began on February 28 to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Thousands have died in this war, including over 3,000 in Iran alone, according to official and NGO sources. Many evangelicals believe the US has a moral obligation to protect Israel, a key ally in the Middle East.