The Bible in Christian Nationalist Rhetoric

Christian nationalism is not a new phenomenon in American political and cultural life, nor is the invocation of the Bible in pursuit of power. This essay surveys the use of the Bible in Christian nationalist rhetoric in the United States, particularly in the context of American populism. The manner in which Donald Trump and his enablers employ the Bible as a political tool is a primary focus, particularly the comparisons to King David and Cyrus the Great. Both analogies reflect a concern with propagating a highly militant, masculine Bible in the service of White, Christian nationalism.