Trump allies fear stagnant evangelical support could make him 'a 1-term president'


Some of President Trump's allies are worried that stagnant support among evangelicals, especially in light of his Syria pullback, could be detrimental to his 2020 prospects.
A new Politico report details how those close to Trump are urging him to take note of some troubling recent signs that he could be in danger of losing some support among evangelicals, including a Fox News poll in which 28 percent of white evangelicals said Trump should be impeached and removed from office, and an NPR/Marist survey showing only 62 percent of white evangelicals definitely plan to vote for Trump in 2020. This is compared to the 81 percent of white evangelicals who did back Trump in 2016.
Those are just two polls, and a recent Public Religion Research Institute study found that 82 percent of Republican or Republican-leaning white evangelical Protestants want Trump to be the Republican nominee. Still, fears among Trump allies about the potential of some evangelicals abandoning him come as he faces heavy criticism from evangelical leaders over his decision to pull troops back from Syria, with some of these leaders urging him privately to reverse himself and televangelist Pat Robertson recently declaring Trump is "in danger of losing the mandate of heaven."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"If he's going to win in 2020, he has to be north of the 81 percent [of white evangelicals] he won in 2016," a longtime Trump friend told Politico. "I'm not suggesting that the polling is all of a sudden going to show that his support is plummeting because of Syria. But if it stays stagnant, he's a one-term president." One scholar of religion, Elesha Coffman, suggested to Politico that this may all come down to the network that has recently been drawing Trump's ire, explaining, "My gut says white evangelicals will jump when and if Fox News does."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Kaja Kallas: the EU's new chief diplomat shaping the future of European defense
In the Spotlight Former Estonian Prime Minister's status as an uncompromising Russia hawk has gone from liability to strength
By David Faris Published
-
7 ways to drink spectacularly across the United States this spring
The Week Recommends A bar for every springtime occasion
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Test flight of orbital rocket from Europe explodes
Speed Read Isar Aerospace conducted the first test flight of the Spectrum orbital rocket, which crashed after takeoff
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published