If Donald Trump ever decided to start a church, it might look strikingly like many of America’s megachurches, many of which proved instrumental to his election. Picture this: a sprawling campus adorned with gold trim, a logo emblazoned with his name in towering letters, and a weekly service with the same glitz of a high-production rally. While this scenario is hypothetical, the parallels between Trump’s leadership style and megachurch culture are too striking to ignore. Both emphasize spectacle, loyalty, and the consolidation of power—often at the expense of substance, transparency, and inclusion. By examining these similarities, we uncover troubling dynamics that undermine the transformative message of Christianity.
Nepotism and Cronyism: The Family Business
One of the hallmarks of Trump’s leadership has been his reliance on family and loyalists, often elevating them to positions of power regardless of qualifications. From Ivanka Trump’s role as a senior advisor to Jared Kushner’s broad portfolio, his administration blurred the lines between public service and personal allegiance. And now, as he prepares to retake the presidential office, we see a parade of cabinet appointments designed to reward loyalty, not competence. This dynamic is frequently observed in megachurches, where pastors appoint family members and close friends to key leadership roles.
This practice creates insular circles of power that prioritize loyalty over accountability. Decisions are often made within echo chambers, stifling dissent and innovation. This lack of transparency can feel alienating for congregants, particularly when it becomes clear that leadership operates more like a dynasty than a ministry. Just as Trump’s nepotism and cronyism raise concerns about conflicts of interest, megachurch nepotism erodes trust and shifts focus away from the Gospel’s call to servant leadership.
Branding Over Belief: The Power of Spectacle
Trump’s political career has been defined by its emphasis on branding with rallies designed to entertain and energize his base. Similarly, many megachurches have embraced consumerism, offering worship experiences that resemble entertainment productions. Concert-grade lighting, massive screens, and celebrity worship bands draw large crowds but often reduce worship to a transactional experience rather than a sacred encounter.
This focus on spectacle mirrors Trump’s approach to leadership, where appearance often overshadowed substance. While these strategies may fill pews and boost social media metrics, they risk commodifying Christianity and diluting its spiritual depth. Over time, the reliance on the “wow factor” erodes the authenticity many seekers crave, leaving them disillusioned and disconnected.
The Cult of Personality
In both Trump’s world and the realm of megachurches, the leader often becomes the brand. Trump’s larger-than-life persona dominated the political landscape, just as charismatic megachurch pastors dominate their congregations. These leaders frequently build personal empires through book deals, podcasts, and social media platforms, becoming the face of their ministries.
While such charisma can inspire, it also fosters dependency and idolatry. The church’s stability becomes precarious when faith becomes tied to a single personality. Scandals or leadership changes can cause devastating fallout, leaving congregants disillusioned and adrift. This dynamic mirrors the volatility of Trump’s leadership, where controversies often overshadow governance. In both cases, the focus on personality detracts from the mission—whether the mission is effective governance or spreading the Gospel.
Prosperity Gospel and Wealth as Virtue
Trump has long equated wealth with success, presenting himself as the ultimate self-made billionaire. This rhetoric aligns with the prosperity gospel often preached in megachurches—a theology that equates material blessings with God’s favor. With their multimillion-dollar budgets and constant calls for donations, megachurches frequently place financial success at the center of their message.
This focus distorts biblical principles, marginalizing those who struggle financially and creating a barrier to belonging. Just as Trump’s celebration of wealth alienated many working-class Americans, the prosperity gospel alienates those who feel their faith is judged by their bank account. True Christianity calls for solidarity with the poor and marginalized, a message often lost amid the opulence of megachurch culture.
Exploitation and Burnout: The Hidden Costs
Behind the polished facades of Trump’s enterprises and megachurches lies a culture of relentless pressure. Staff and volunteers in megachurches often face high demands to sustain growth and innovation, leading to burnout and disillusionment. Similarly, Trump’s business ventures and political campaigns have been marked by a grueling pace and a “win at all costs” mentality, often resulting in a revolving door of people entering and exiting his world. Trump’s leadership is not about stability or long-term effectiveness; it’s about pragmatic populism that can result in policy and personnel changes whenever the collective winds of political expediency blow in a different direction.
This relentless pursuit of success contradicts Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28 to find rest and renewal in Him. Churches prioritizing metrics over ministry risk becoming factories of busyness rather than sanctuaries of peace. I fear peace will be a rare commodity during Trump’s second term, and the very institutions that are now celebrating “The Prince of Peace,” in many instances, are the very ones enabling this chaos.
Alienating the Marginalized
Trump’s divisive rhetoric often catered to a specific base, leaving others feeling excluded or targeted. Likewise, despite their claims of inclusivity, megachurches often create environments where those who don’t fit a specific mold feel unwelcome. The emphasis on polished appearances and upward mobility can alienate individuals from marginalized backgrounds, pushing them further from the hope and healing the church is called to offer.
Jesus’ ministry was radically inclusive, extending grace to the poor, the sick, and the outcast. When megachurches fail to embody this ethos, they stray from their mission and risk alienating those who most need the Gospel.
A Call for Authenticity
If Trump were to start a church, it would likely reflect many of the issues already present in megachurch culture: nepotism, consumerism, and an obsession with personality. These practices undermine the authenticity and transformative power of Christianity, turning it into a spectacle rather than a sanctuary.
To move forward, megachurches must resist the allure of spectacle and return to the simplicity of the Gospel. By prioritizing discipleship over entertainment, humility over celebrity, and service over power, the church can better reflect the values it claims to promote. Only then can it draw people closer to the love of Christ rather than pushing them away with Trumpian tactics dressed in religious garb.
The Church should intuitively strive to be more like Jesus, not Trump. Many evangelicals seem to have lost the ability to discern the difference.
Image: Pamela Reynoso
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