Trump sees the elections as a battle against the “evil” system that is out to attack Christians

Former President Donald J. Trump often characterizes his presidential campaign as a battle for America’s future. But speaking at a Christian broadcast media convention in Nashville on Thursday, he wrapped that image in a stark framework of good versus evil, portraying his political opponents as part of an “evil” system.

Mr. Trump also repeated his claim that America’s “greatest threat comes not from the outside of our country” but “from within,” language that last year raised alarm among experts who saw in it echoes of autocratic leaders.

During Thursday’s speech at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Trump portrayed the threat as liberals — more specifically, a “radical left, corrupt political class” — whom he broadly portrayed as intrinsically out to attack Christianity .

“Christians, they cannot afford to sit on the sidelines in this fight,” Trump said. He later added, without providing evidence, that liberals persecuted Christians because “they know our loyalty is not to them. Our allegiance is to our country, and our allegiance is to our creator.” (There are many Christians who are Democrats.)

Before running for office, Mr. Trump showed little sign of being particularly religious, which he acknowledged early in his speech, and he does not often give faith-focused speeches along the way. But evangelical voters in 2016 were attracted to his populist message and his promises to appoint “pro-life” judges, and they have remained loyal to him.

During his third term, Trump has often portrayed himself as a staunch defender of the Christian right. He also often brags about his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who voted in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade.

On Thursday, he praised these justices — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — from the podium, calling them “great judges” and “great people.” (All three will decide constitutional issues related to Mr. Trump’s criminal cases and his election bid.)

Trump has often been uncomfortable or unwilling to discuss abortion at length during his campaign. During his speech, he took credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, without using the word “abortion” or mentioning the case by name.

“I was able to bring this issue back to the United States for the first time in 54 years,” Mr. Trump said, before falsely declaring that “everyone on both sides agrees that this is where it should be.” ”

Many voters did not want Roe v. Wade to be overturned, a fact that became clearer after abortion rights emerged as a campaign issue that Democrats raised in elections across the country in 2022 and 2023.

Mr. Trump has avoided taking a clear position on abortion restrictions in the wake of that election, and his emphasis on states’ rights during Thursday’s speech is part of that pattern.

He also did not address a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos in test tubes should be considered children, a decision that cited anti-abortion language. The Biden campaign has criticized Mr. Trump’s silence on the issue.

Mr. Trump has previously said that Republicans must find a way to talk about the issue that does not threaten them at the ballot box, and he previously criticized a six-week abortion ban signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican and a former president. political rival, as a ‘terrible mistake’.

But Mr. Trump has told advisers and allies that he supports a national 16-week abortion ban, with three exceptions, in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother, The New York Times reported last week. citing two people with direct knowledge of Mr. Trump’s deliberations.

On Thursday, he linked the issue to his legal troubles and criticized the Justice Department for prosecuting six anti-abortion protesters which obstructed a reproductive health clinic in 2021 in Tennessee, contrary to federal law. They were convicted by a jury in the state last month, in a case that has been a flashpoint for conservative activists.

He also reiterated a pledge to create a federal task force that would focus on “anti-Christian” bias. Trump has tried to appeal to Christian voters by accusing the Biden administration of criminalizing Americans because of their faith, though experts have said many of his claims are unfounded or misleading.

But Trump — who faces 91 felonies in four criminal cases, including one related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election — is using these characterizations to support a larger theme of his campaign: that President Biden and the Democrats pose serious threats to democracy.

That trend was visible on Thursday. Before Trump was introduced, the speakers blared “Justice for All,” a song featuring the J6 Prison Choir, made up of men imprisoned for their part in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

That song — in which the men sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Mr. Trump recites the Pledge of Allegiance — is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump and his supporters to overturn the effort to overturn the 2020 election as to reformulate an act. of patriotism.

During his speech, Mr. Trump referred to the singers as “the J6 hostages,” a term he has used repeatedly to describe those serving sentences in connection with the Jan. 6 attack.