Abstract

The relationship between the Trump administrations and the religious right has undergone a profound transformation，shifting from a transactional alliance to an ideological fusion． During the first term，the relationship was defined by a mutually dependent exchange: evangelical voters provided political support in return for concrete policy outcomes-most notably conservative judicial appointments， anti-abortion executive orders，and a Middle East policy driven by Christian Zionism． The successes and limitations of the first term’s policies catalyzed a radicalization of this relationship heading into the second term． Guided by“Project 2025”－a blueprint for Christian nationalism－the relationship in the second term is characterized by ideological convergence，with the“allies”of the first term evolving into the architects and administrators of the second．Rather than merely replicating past policies，the second term represents a systematic radicalization of the initial agenda; it aims to reshape the state apparatus，dismantle institutional checks and balances，and institutionalize Christian nationalist ideology as a core principle of governance． This trajectory poses profound challenges to America’s tradition of the separation of church and state，as well as to its pluralistic democratic values and norms，while simultaneously intensifying tensions with multilateralism on the global stage．