‘Christian Values Have Proven Consistent’: Trump Remains African Churches’ Favorite Politician
HARARE, Zimbabwe — The 45th (and now 47th) President of the United States, Donald Trump, soon after his inauguration nearly two months ago, signed an executive order which suspended foreign aid. This affected all the USAID projects across the world.
Africa, a major beneficiary of USAID in health, agriculture and other sectors has been hit hard by the ban as essential life saving programs stop and thousands are rendered jobless. Uncertainties to PEPFAR, a U.S. State Department program, projects supporting thousands affected by HIV/AIDS has taken an emotional toll to the majority of countries.
Amid all these concerns, churches across Africa still hail Trump as a God-fearing world leader.
During his first term, Trump, speaking at 2017 U.S.-Africa Summit in Washington D.C. pronounced Namibia as Nambia, made headlines for not being too concerned to know the continent’s history. In other instances, Trump made pejorative remarks about Africa. At the start of Trump’s second term, Africa seems to have forgiven him. Many think Trump remained a better choice than former Vice President Kamala Harris.
In fact, Trump's popularity has remained high in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe, due to his connection to Christianity.
Although Harris was seen as more African-friendly, many churches across the continent felt uneasy about her left-wing political positions and advocacy of LGBTQ rights and abortion. Trump's political positions are aligned with the underlying Pentecostal and evangelical beliefs of many Africans.
Religion expert Shingai Mapiye said Trump’s perceived perception that he supports White supremacy is of concern, but his other policy positions fit well to the African church.
“The concern of churches on the continent has been on issues of morality and it is those things the U.S. President has hit head on. US-Africa relations are not only economic and political but also social which turn to influence communities of the former through NGOs,” Mapiye said, “So, by President Trump giving clarity on gender and abortion issues, he gained love from the church despite challenges in aid freeze.”
While the president takes a beating on social media for his USAID cuts, African pastors are neutralizing those blaming Trump for it.
“President Trump is doing what must be done for the good of his country,” said Tinashe Hungwe, a cleric in Zimbabwe. “It is high time to make our governments accountable and provide for their people not to blame the U.S.”
Abortion remains a major concern
With the majority of churches in Africa upholding an anti-abortion position in connection with Christian doctrine, they have supported the Trump administration on the issue. Over time, churches have blamed Western-backed Civic Society Organizations for their influence on local communities when it comes to abortion.
“Most of the organizations complaining of the aid cut have been influencing our communities to sin against God by eliminating lives, depopulating our communities,” Hungwe said.
Notable pastors praised the Trump administration for cutting funding to such NGOs that provide contraception and safe abortion services in several African countries.
In most African countries, abortion remain illegal, only allowed in exceptional circumstances such as when a woman is raped, the pregnancy is a result of an incestuous relationship and where the mother’s life is in dan ger.
Gender, morality and religious freedom
Despite the involvement of Africans in the Democratic Party’s political leadership, including former President Barack Obama, the majority of Christian groups in Africa remain anti-gay rights.
Trump's order that only two genders are recognized by the federal government — male and female — made many clerics in Africa happy.
“It is coming at the right time, when the church was worried of the influence on our young people from celebrities and sponsored organizations, especially from the U.S,” said Prince Marowero, an evangelical pastor. “We see God answering our prayers in such statements from the White House.”
The issues of LGBTQ rights has been of great concern to African clerics. The churches on the continent reject homosexuality as contrary to Scripture and African cultures.
In 2024, homosexuality was illegal in 30 of Africa’s 54 nations. At the same time, abortion restrictions have been relaxed in 20 of the 54 nations.
“President Trump's conservative Christian values have proven to be consistent as far as religion is concerned. … We look forward to another era of morality and social order,” Marowero added. “We also hope that American institutions operating in Africa will freely engage with African people without pushing an immoral agenda.”
Numerous religious leaders have kept tabs on Trump's political alliances, public declarations and actions since the November elections. They said they enjoy what they see in terms of upholding religious freedom, defending Christianity and settling international disputes.
In a statement Africans on the continent related with, while delivering a speech last year at the New Spirit Revival Centre in Cleveland, Trump made an impassioned pitch to African American faith voters, calling Black churches “the conscience of our country.”
Chris Oyakhilome, a well-known Nigerian pastor, claimed during the election that Americans opposed to Trump were hostile to Christians everywhere. Oyakhilome has a larger global following and is an influential player in the Pentecostal community. He also called Trump’s election a sign the world is ending.
Nigerian Baptist pastor the Rev. Joseph John Hayab said he hopes Trump’s administration will support religious freedom and emphasize family values, as well as provide support for counterterrorism efforts against Nigeria’s Boko Haram and al-Shabaab, the Somalia based al-Qaida affiliate in East Africa.
“Many African churches hope that Trump will continue to champion religious freedom and support for Christians,” he said, “especially in regions where they face persecution.”
Calvin Manika is an award-winning international journalist based in Zimbabwe.