Since America’s founding, white Christians – specifically men – have enjoyed more freedoms and legal protections than any other group in the country. Today, white Christian Americans make up about 44% of the country’s population. According to Navigator polling, in the 2024 presidential election, 62% voted for President Trump and 28% voted for Kamala Harris. Moreover, the Trump administration has gone to great lengths to reshape the government to reflect white Christian values, most recently in a report that called for a “bridge” between the Christian church and the state. Navigator set out to find how white Christian Americans feel about the country at the 250th.

White Christians are More Positive About the Direction of America

While only 30% of Americans say the country is “headed in the right direction,” white Christians are slightly more positive – a reflection of Republican attitudes more broadly. Nearly two-in-five (38%) white Christians say the country is “headed in the right direction.” Still, a majority (54%) say America is “off on the wrong track.” Christians who attend religious services more frequently are more likely to say the country is “headed in the right direction,” while people of color who are also Christians are less likely to say so.

In focus groups, white Christians remained optimistic that America can move forward in a positive direction.

• “I have faith and high hopes that America will be great again. I think we have to hit rock bottom, pick ourselves up and get better. And I have hopes that better days are coming.” – MS white Christian woman, Democrat

Among the 54% of white Christians who say the U.S. is “off on the wrong track,” the top five events for when the country fell off track are:

• When Trump got elected president (55%),
• The ongoing war with Iran (44%)
• The events of January 6, 2021 (36%),
• The coronavirus pandemic (36%), and
• The surge in the last few years in illegal immigration at the southern border (30%).

Compared with Americans overall who say the top five events are: 

• When Trump got elected president (66%),
• The ongoing war with Iran (49%),
• The events of January 6, 2021 (42%),
• The coronavirus pandemic (36%), and
• The overturning of Roe v. Wade (35%).

White Christians are More Likely to Say America is a Christian Nation

Nearly three-in-four (73%) white Christians agree with the statement “America is a Christian nation,” including 36% who “strongly agree.” Among other Americans, 59% say they disagree with the statement, including 36% who “strongly disagree.”

This statement was echoed by white Christians in focus groups.

• “The country was founded on Christianity and God.” – GA white Christian woman, independent
• “The country was founded on God.” – AZ white Christian man, Republican

Freedom of Religion is Important to White Christians, But Many Say it is Under Threat

While 44% of Americans say freedom of religion is an important value to them, 53% of white Christians say the same. Other important rights and freedoms to white Christians are:

• Freedom of speech (65%),
• Right to vote (51%),
• Right to bear arms (48%), and
• Right to privacy (39%).

In focus groups, white Christians specifically spoke about the importance of “personal liberty” and the plethora of belief systems that exist in the U.S.

• “The essence for me of America is liberty, is personal liberty, provided your liberty doesn’t infringe upon the liberty of others, doesn’t harm anybody.…I think America is the melting pot. It’s people of all walks of life, of all belief systems, of all kinds of things. Of the many different colors of glass, you get the mosaic of America that is what makes it great.” – TX white Christian man, independent

When asked which of these values were most under threat, 41% of white Christians say freedom of religion, compared to just 27% overall. Other rights and freedoms they view most at threat are:

• Freedom of speech (53%),
• Right to bear arms (43%),
• Right to equal treatment under the law (35%), and
• Freedom from government overreach (35%).

Much of this is driven by Christians who attend church at least once a month. Those who go less often are more aligned with Americans overall.

White Christians Identify With Images and Quotes Intermingling Church and State, However Focus Groups Show a More Nuanced View

68% of white Christians say an image of a Bible over an American flag is “very patriotic,” compared to 51% of all Americans. 75% of white Christians – compared to just 62% of Americans overall – say the following quote from Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) describes America’s identity:

“We Americans are the sons and daughters of the Christian Pilgrims that poured out from Europe’s shores to baptize a new world in their ancient faith. America is our birthright. It’s our heritage, our destiny.”

However, in our focus group, white Christians had a more nuanced take on the link between the U.S. government and religion.

• “Again, I’m Catholic. I was raised that way, but I didn’t agree with the….What was that one thing when they said they’re going to put the 10 Commandments in schools, in public schools? I was like I didn’t agree with it. And I remember my priests or when I went to CCD, the teacher taught me that it wasn’t our job to go convert people, it was God’s job.” – PA white Christian man, Democrat
• “I think there’s tremendous value in the separation of church and state and we shouldn’t legislate from the pulpit.” – TX white Christian man, independent\t