A new study has found that the close association between Christianity and US President Donald Trump has become a barrier to church attendance for many young adults, including a significant number who identify as Christians.
Research by the Billy Graham Center Research Institute surveyed 2,365 American adults aged 18 to 28 through NORC's AmeriSpeak panel between August and September 2024. The study was supported by the Lilly Endowment and led by Professor Rick Richardson of Wheaton College.
Participants were asked whether they agreed with the statement: "Christians’ support of Trump has made me less likely to go to church."
Across the full sample, 48% agreed with the statement to some degree, while around 1 in 5 (20%) said they strongly agreed. A similar proportion (21%) strongly disagreed.
The findings differed significantly depending on religious identity.
Among Gen Z adults who identified as atheists, 72% said support for Trump among Christians had made them less likely to attend church. The figure was 65% among agnostics, while a slim majority of those describing themselves as having no particular religion also agreed.
However, the researchers cautioned that the findings do not mean politics is the only reason young adults are staying away from church. Many respondents may have little interest in attending religious services for a variety of personal, social or philosophical reasons, with political associations representing only one factor.
The research found that the issue affects some young adults who identify as Christians. Among those describing themselves simply as Christian, 44% said the association between Christianity and Trump had made them less likely to attend church. The figure was 42% among Catholics and 30% among Protestant young adults.
The study also examined whether political associations were affecting those who already attend church.
Among young Christians who attend weekly, 38% said Christians’ support for Trump had been a barrier to them attending more often. Among Christians who never attend church, the figure was 40%.
The researchers said the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that young Christians would automatically return to church if political links disappeared.
However, the results suggest that a significant number of young adults see the perceived relationship between Christianity and Trump as an obstacle to becoming more involved in church life.
Around 20% of Generation Z adults in the survey said they attend church regularly. Among the remaining 80%, respondents were almost evenly divided between those who said politics had no impact on their attendance and those who said the association between Christianity and Trump had made them less likely to attend.
The study comes amid continuing debate in the United States about the relationship between Christian identity and political affiliation, particularly among evangelical Christians who have strongly supported Trump during recent elections.
The researchers concluded that the connection between faith and politics is likely to remain an important factor in shaping the future of American Christianity, particularly as younger generations decide how they relate to churches and religious communities.
