Key facts
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 54% of evangelical Christians believe President Donald Trump's use of the military in Iran is not in line with Christian values.
- The same poll indicated 51% of evangelicals feel the administration's immigration policy approach is not aligned with Christian values.
- Trump's approval rating among evangelicals has fallen to 52% from 61% in August.
- The poll surveyed 4,531 U.S. adults nationwide with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates a division among evangelical Christians, a key constituency for President Donald Trump, regarding his administration's foreign policy and immigration stances. The survey reveals that approximately half of evangelicals do not believe Trump's handling of the Iran war and immigration enforcement aligns with Christian values.
Specifically, 54% of evangelicals polled stated that Trump's use of the military in Iran was inconsistent with their understanding of Christianity, while 41% disagreed. Similarly, 51% felt the administration's immigration policies were not in line with Christian values, compared to 44% who believed they were.
These findings come as Trump's overall approval rating among evangelicals has dipped to 52%, down from 61% in August, though it remains significantly higher than his 35% approval among all U.S. adults. The poll, conducted between June 3-8 among 4,531 U.S. adults, has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
Republicans are heavily reliant on evangelical support for the upcoming midterm elections. While Trump has courted this demographic by appointing conservative judges and defending religious rights, some voters express disillusionment. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended Trump's record, stating he has delivered for people of faith. However, individual voters like Sandy Miller voiced concerns about Trump's actions not reflecting Christian principles, particularly regarding the Iran war.
Conversely, other evangelicals, like Connie Reese, find biblical precedent for supporting actions like the war in Iran, emphasizing a moral obligation to protect allies like Israel. The poll also noted that evangelicals give Trump low marks on handling the cost of living.