Pew Study: Most Americans View Trump as “Not Too” Religious

In a nation where religion often intersects with politics, recent findings from the Pew Research Center reveal intriguing perceptions of President Trump’s religiosity among Americans.

These insights emerged before a controversy involving Trump sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus healing a sick man, which he later removed, claiming a misunderstanding.

The survey indicates that a significant majority, approximately 70%, of American adults perceive Trump as lacking in religious fervor, labeling him as either “not too” or “not at all” religious. Meanwhile, 24% consider him “somewhat” religious, and a mere 5% regard him as “very” religious.

When examining opinions within religious groups, the results shift slightly. Among Protestants, 64% share the view of Trump’s limited religiosity, and the sentiment is even stronger among Catholics at 71%. White Evangelicals, a key demographic for Trump, show a reduced skepticism, with 51% viewing him as not particularly religious.

Political affiliation also plays a significant role in these perceptions. While 42% of Republicans view Trump as somewhat religious, only 8% of Democrats share this perspective.

Speculations about Trump’s relationship with faith intensified after a near-fatal incident during his re-election campaign, where a bullet narrowly missed him. Some, including Trump, attribute his survival to divine intervention, sparking debates on God’s purpose in saving him, ranging from his political agendas to international support, notably for Israel.

Despite questions about his personal faith, 22% of Americans believe Trump advocates for religious communities either “a great deal” or “quite a bit.” This belief is more prevalent among Republicans (43%) and white Evangelicals (67%).

Chip Rotolo, a Pew Research Associate, commented, “Even among Trump’s strongest supporters, relatively few people say they think he is very religious. Just 8% of Republicans and 5% of White evangelicals say this is the case.”

Rotolo further noted, “White Catholics are far more likely than Hispanic Catholics to say Trump stands up at least somewhat for people with religious beliefs like theirs.

“Hispanic Catholics, in turn, have become more likely to say Trump doesn’t stand up for people with their religious beliefs. [Fifty-five percent] now say he stands up a little or not at all for their religious beliefs, up from 40% when we last asked this question in February 2024.”