How Donald Trump widely appealed to American Catholics

Unheard of since 1984. The 54 million Catholic voters, who represent nearly a quarter of the American electorate, mainly chose the Republican candidate in the last presidential elections. Donald Trump won 58% of the Catholic vote. This score exceeds that of the last elections by 8 to 10 points. Hispanic Catholics, normally supported by the Democratic Party, voted 35% for the Red Party. Two other Republican candidates had already largely won over Catholics: Nixon in 1972 and Reagan in 1984. With these exceptions, since the death of JF Kennedy, their vote was indistinguishable from that of other Americans.

Why such a “republicanization” of the Catholic vote? “Trump presented himself as the defender of Christians in the face of a Democratic party which would endanger religious freedom,” analyzes Marie Gayte, researcher in American civilization specializing in the links between politics and religion at the University of Toulon. For example, he recalled past episodes, such as an attempted FBI investigation into traditionalist parishes during the Biden administration or Kamala Harris’ opposition to Supreme Court judges because they were “pro-life” .

The Democratic Party’s ideas on ethical issues have also repelled Catholics. For many of them, “abortion, contraception, public schools or gender ideologies are “serious subjects of concern”, explains Francis Maier, American journalist specializing in the Catholic population. Even if a majority of Catholics are in favor of the legalization of abortion, Kamala Harris went too far for some, in particular by declaring herself against the conscientious objection of medical personnel.

The personality of the Democratic candidate was also decisive, more than that of her opponents. Trump’s outrageous nature was a known fact “so, strangely, less threatening”, as Francis Meier assures. And JD Vance, a Republican vice president who converted to Catholicism, was able to send a positive signal to Catholics. On the other hand, Harris appeared “cold, hostile to religious faith and excessive in her commitment to the right to abortion”, argues Francis Maier. She also made some mistakes: Trump was able to take advantage of the absence of his rival at the traditional Al Smith gala, a Catholic charity. “The Democrats ignored the Catholic electorate and the Republicans rushed into the breach,” summarizes Marie Gayte.

Finally, even if in this election the ethnic-religious dimension is important, the portfolio also weighs. As with the rest of their fellow citizens, economic considerations particularly counted in the choice of Catholics. “The Americans are very pragmatic in their political decisions,” assures Francis Maier. Trump was the candidate who promised to help middle- and working-class citizens fill their shopping carts. Enough to convince many Americans, including Catholics.