When faith and policy clash
President Trump is back in the White House, and his first 100 days have been a whirlwind of policy changes. But here’s the twist—some of his most loyal supporters, Christians, are starting to feel uneasy. A new poll from the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) reveals a surprising truth: for many Christian voters, the administration’s early moves aren’t exactly singing from their hymnbook.
Let’s dive into the numbers, because they’re telling a story that’s anything but monolithic. According to the NaLEC poll, conducted by LSG Group between April 8 and April 15, 2025, 76% of evangelicals are worried that slashing assistance abroad could harm persecuted Christians, destabilize American farmers, and even lead to preventable deaths globally. It’s a stark reminder that for many evangelicals, faith isn’t just about what happens at home in America; it’s about a global call to compassion.
But the unease doesn’t stop there. Immigration, a perennial hot-button issue, is another sore spot. While most evangelicals support deporting undocumented criminals, 65% of Christians—including 61% of evangelicals—back a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Two-thirds are also troubled by the administration’s immigration tactics, from mistaken deportations to arrests of U.S. citizens and a freeze on refugee programs. Reverend Gabriel Salguero, NaLEC’s president, puts it bluntly: “Evangelicals are not a monolith.” For many, the biblical call to “welcome the stranger” isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a mandate.
On the domestic front, 72% of evangelicals express concern over potential Medicaid cuts, particularly their impact on children and the elderly, while 71% of Christians oppose reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Amid these worries, 75% of evangelicals back Republican-led efforts to expand the Child Tax Credit, reflecting a blend of pragmatism and vigilance among Christian voters focused on protecting the vulnerable.
Foreign policy is another curveball. Only 40% of evangelicals support cutting funding to Ukraine, and a mere 20% are on board with President Trump’s decision to exclude Russian goods from global tariffs. For those surveyed, geopolitics is also a matter of moral calculus.
Perhaps the most striking finding is this: fewer than half of Christian voters (48%)—and only 55% of evangelicals—believe President Trump’s policies align with their Christian values. That’s a far cry from the unwavering support expected. As Matthew Soerens of World Relief notes, “Every person—in every country—is made in the image of God.” For many evangelicals, that belief translates into a demand for policies that protect refugees, preserve family unity, and prioritize the poor.
The NaLEC poll highlights a vibrant Christian electorate—engaged, diverse, and vocal when policies stray from their faith. As faith and policy collide, personal convictions challenge governance, sparking tensions over laws and weighing individual liberty against societal needs. Thoughtful, compassionate dialogue is crucial to bridge these divides. In a polarized political landscape, this poll quietly underscores faith’s enduring role in shaping meaningful discourse.
Highlights from the poll list below. For the full poll results, visit nalec.org. *The online poll included a representative sample of 1,000 Christian likely voters across the United States, balanced to national demographics by denomination, age, gender, race, party, and income. The margin of error for the overall sample is ±3 percentage points. Results:
76% of Evangelicals Concerned About Foreign Aid Cuts
2/3 of Christians Support Immigrant Citizenship Path
65% of Christians, 61% of evangelicals favor citizenship; most evangelicals support deporting criminals.
Concerned about mistaken deportations, citizen arrests, refugee freezes, and judicial pressure.
72% of Evangelicals Worry About Medicaid Cuts
Concerned for children and elderly; 75% back Child Tax Credit expansion, 71% of Christians oppose SNAP cuts.
Evangelicals Wary of Russia Realignment
Only 40% support Ukraine funding cuts; 20% back Russian goods tariff exclusion.
Less Than Half of Christians See Trump Policies as Christian
48% of Christians, 55% of evangelicals say first 100-day policies reflect Christian values.
