As US President Donald Trump marks 100 days of his second term, White evangelical Protestants remain among his most loyal supporters, even as his overall approval rating has slipped.
A Pew Research Centre survey conducted in April shows that 72 per cent of White evangelical Protestants approve of Trump’s performance - well above the national average of 40 per cent. In contrast, just 51 per cent of White non-evangelical Protestants and White Catholics express approval.
The study also found that 57 per cent of White evangelicals trust Trump’s words more than those of previous presidents, highlighting a deep alignment between his policies and evangelical priorities.
Meanwhile, majorities of Black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics, and religiously unaffiliated Americans (those who identify as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”) disapprove of his presidency. According to researchers, these divisions closely mirror political affiliations, with most White evangelicals leaning Republican and other groups tending to lean Democratic.
Since his January inauguration, Trump has issued 144 executive orders - more than any modern president at this stage.
Key actions include:
- A 10 per cent tariff on all imports and a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, aimed at reviving US manufacturing.
- Withdrawal from the World Health Organisation and the Paris Climate Agreement.
- 280,000 federal job cuts and the deportation of 139,000 individuals.
- Termination of over 90 per cent of USAID’s foreign aid contracts.
The drastic cuts to foreign aid have drawn sharp criticism from Christian relief groups and the Vatican, who argue they harm vulnerable communities worldwide.
Mr Trump’s hardline immigration policies have also triggered opposition from Catholic bishops and evangelical leaders, who call for more humane treatment of migrants and asylum seekers.
Overall, his approval has dropped seven percentage points since February.
Views on the ethical standards of his administration are sharply divided: 70 per cent of White evangelicals rate them as excellent or good, while 62 per cent of the general public view them as only fair or poor. White Catholics are evenly split.
