Donald Trump's 2017 Value Voters Summit Speech: Political Policies, Religious Proof?

Donald Trump, WH photo

Continuing to discuss President Trump's 2017 Value Voters Summit Speech, let us look at the interesting way that Trump used religious arguments to endorse conservative policies that lacked any obvious religious importance. That tactic can be very persuasive, for to a religious person, religious authority can be the highest proof.

Now, it makes perfect sense the conservatives will support conservative policies. It also makes perfect sense that conservatives will support the old-time religion. Although the United States has always been religiously diverse, many conservatives believe that Protestant Christianity is deeply embedded in our national psyche, government, and Constitution. It is a simple step to assume that religion requires one to adopt traditional, conservative policies, even if no religious foundation underlies those policies.

Mr. Trump first began his speech by reviewing the United States' religious heritage. He then laid out conservative policies. The speech's clever construction and organization give the listener an impression that the conservative economic and political policies had a religious foundation.

First, let us look at how Mr. Trump connected the United States' traditions with religion. He mentioned that "our Creator" was mentioned four times in the Declaration of Independence:

Declaration of Independence

The American Founders invoked our Creator four times in the Declaration of Independence -- four times.  (Applause.)  How times have changed.  But you know what, now they're changing back again.  Just remember that.  (Applause.)
 

That passage told us two important things: that the nation was founded on religious principles, and that those principles have been lost. Mr. Trump promised to change back to the old ways. (Note, of course, that the United States Constitution mentions God nowhere, which Mr. Trump did not mention in his speech.)

Mr. Trump also told his audience that Benjamin Franklin insisted that the Constitutional Convention begin with prayer. He also cited that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion.

Having established the nation's religious foundation, Trump promised two different things. The first was that he would protect religion against the government: "I pledged that, in a Trump administration, our nation’s religious heritage would be cherished, protected, and defended like you have never seen before." He pointed out that he had appointed a conservative Supreme Court justice (who would presumably resist legalized abortion?) and that he was working to protect the unborn. He promised to deal with the Johnson Amendment, which restricts tax-exempt organizations from political discourse. He wanted "to protect the conscience rights of groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor," that did not want to cover birth control in their health insurance policies.

All of those arguments were religious, in that they all tied back to religious doctrines that many people believe. Mr. Trump then turned to policies that lacked any obvious religious significance. He promised that, step-by-step, he would continue to reverse the Affordable Care Act. Biblical foundation for that decision seems to be lacking. He promised strong action against the Islamic State. He promised to lower taxes, calling this a "Christmas gift" for the American people. Calling it a Christmas gift may have made it seem a little religious, although nowhere does the Bible oppose the paying of taxes. (Indeed, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" Matt. 22:20-22). Reversing Obamacare, lowering taxes, and stopping the Islamic State are all standard right-wing policies, but do not arise from religion per se.

Of course, politicians have long made impossible promises. Mr. Trump told his audience that it was wrong for the department stores to say "Happy New Year" instead of "Merry Christmas." He said that this problem has already been solved: "Well, guess what? We're saying “Merry Christmas” again. (Applause.)"  Really? We have not yet had a Christmas while Donald Trump was president. Just as the First Amendment protects freedom of religion, it also protects department stores' right to say whatever they want, so Mr. Trump has no power to change what they say. Or does he? We will have to wait and see what the department stores do in coming months, won't we?

See my earlier post about this speech, where I talked about Mr. Trump's use of the rhetorical device called "juxtaposition."