If you were active online on Sunday, you likely observed a small spectacle of culture-war drama. The focal point was the Biden administration’s acknowledgment of Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, which triggered a wave of outrage among conservatives. Mississippi governor Tate Reeves asserted, “This is an intentional attempt to insult and mock Christians across America,” while National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin expressed indignation at the timing.
However, the timing was purely coincidental. Transgender Day of Visibility has traditionally fallen on March 31, and this year, it coincided with Easter, which varies in date annually. Despite this coincidence, conservative circles seized upon the alignment to fuel a day of outrage. For many conservative Christians, venting against Biden’s perceived secular progressive agenda became intertwined with their holiday observance.
The concept of the “War on Christmas,” a lucrative theme for conservative politics generating outrage and fundraising opportunities, has now extended to Easter. This episode underscores the gradual fusion of Republican politics with political Christianity, a trend that contributed to the development of Donald Trump’s quasi-religious cult of personality.
In the mid-20th century, the principle of separating church and state had evolved from a legal doctrine to a societal norm. While my mother was instructed to recite the Lord’s Prayer daily in her public school, sectarian religious practices had largely ceased in schools, and public officials began to acknowledge the diversity of religious beliefs within the United States.
The emergence of the Christian right and its integration into the Republican Party during the Reagan era disrupted this equilibrium. Figures like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell viewed religious neutrality as anti-Christian bias, leading to a push within the Republican Party to infuse Christianity into the public domain. By the George W. Bush administration, which frequently invoked divine guidance for its policies, concerns arose among liberal critics about the potential for theocratic influences.
Rather than a direct takeover of the state by the church, a more accurate depiction of the phenomenon is the gradual absorption of Christianity into right-wing political identity.
Central to this belief system is the notion that Christianity is under siege from secular liberalism. Despite this perceived existential threat persisting for over four decades, Christianity has endured. The Republican Party is portrayed as the defender and champion of the faith, framing any opposition to the party as an attack on Christianity.
Donald Trump, leveraging his understanding of conservative psychology honed through exposure to conservative media, strategically incorporated Christian symbolism into his campaign. He introduced prayers at rallies, endorsed Bibles, and shared social media posts likening himself to Jesus. This tactic, while perplexing to outsiders, aligns with the fervently held belief that Christianity is engaged in a struggle for survival against liberalism.
In this narrative, right-wing politics takes precedence over other expressions of faith. While Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, issued a traditional Easter message emphasizing hope, renewal, and peace, Trump’s Easter message diverged significantly. Trump’s message, laden with grievances and attacks against perceived adversaries, used Easter as a platform to air personal grievances rather than focusing on religious themes.
In the eyes of the right-wing, Biden is portrayed as sacrilegious while Trump is revered as devout. Victimhood has become intertwined with Christian observance in conservative circles. By indulging in self-centered grievances on Easter, Trump positioned himself as the true adherent to the faith in the eyes of his supporters, contrasting with Biden’s more traditional Easter message.