Interpreting Donald Trump’s recent successes as God’s providential favor is problematic – is he succeeding because
- God is judging us by giving us a destructive leader?
- Satan, the “God of this world,” is giving him success?
- God is using Trump for good?
1. God IS in Control: Sovereignty and Human Leadership
From a biblical perspective, God’s sovereignty extends to the appointment of leaders, even those who may not be traditionally viewed as moral or religious. This idea is supported by passages such as Daniel 2:21, which states that God “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings.” In this light, Trump’s political successes—whether his initial election victory in 2016, his influence within the Republican Party, or his enduring popularity—might be seen by some as part of God’s providential governance, positioning him for a specific purpose in history, whether for good and/or evil.
2. God Uses Some Very Imperfect People for Good: Moral Ambiguity in Leadership
Throughout the Bible, God often uses leaders with notable flaws or controversial backgrounds to achieve His purposes. Trump can be analogized to be:
- Cyrus the Great (Isaiah 45:1): A pagan king who helped Israel return from exile
- King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Jeremiah 27:6): Trump, like Nebuchadnezzar, can be seen by some as a powerful yet flawed leader whose role, particularly in supporting Israel, might serve a larger purpose in the unfolding of national and spiritual history.
- King Josiah (2 Kings 22–23): In this analogy, Trump is the righteous king following the wicked one (Obama)
Interpreting Trump’s successes in this context might involve recognizing that, despite his controversies and moral failings, he could still be a tool for a divine purpose. Those who hold to this interpretation may view Trump’s influence as part of God’s plan to address specific national or global issues, even if the full reasoning remains hidden in God’s “secret counsel” (as Calvin would phrase it).
3. Recognizing Providence: Ordinary and Extraordinary Means
God does not just work in miracles, but in trends that can be explained by natural processes, yet the bigger picture shows patterns that defy the odds. In either case, patterns of success or failure can be seen as providence even if results seem merely natural consequences.
Trump’s political trajectory can be seen as unlikely, and these may be interpreted by some as markers of divine involvement:
- Ordinary Means: Trump’s successful use of media, social platforms, and his own capricious behavior can be viewed as God working through ordinary, human means. His ability to galvanize a large voter base and sustain political relevance might reflect providential favor through “ordinary” channels.
- Extraordinary Means: If one views certain events, like Trump’s persistent popularity, overcoming swarms of legal attacks, and importantly, survival of assassination attempts, can be interpreted as extraordinary signs of divine preservation. Some might see this as evidence of God’s providence, believing that Trump’s ability to “survive” such odds demonstrates a special form of protection or purpose.
4. Preserved by God: Overcoming Suffering and Testing
In a providential view, suffering and testing often accompany God’s chosen leaders. If one were to apply this to Trump, his legal challenges and media scrutiny could be seen as tests that strengthen him for a larger purpose. Some may interpret his continued political viability as evidence of divine endurance—paralleling biblical figures like Joseph or David, who faced immense trials before fulfilling their roles.
5. Success of Wicked Leaders: Judgment or Redemption?
Some theologians might argue that Trump’s divisive presence and the polarization he creates could also serve a larger providential purpose, such as revealing the moral and spiritual condition of a nation. Regardless of his own moral state, it is clear that his presidency has revealed the deep corruption of our media, government, and the war machine that drives it. In the Bible, God sometimes uses controversial leaders to bring judgment, to catalyze repentance, or to expose the deeper issues within a society (see Judges 2:16-23).
In this interpretation, Trump’s influence might be viewed as God allowing certain social and political tensions to come to the forefront, either as a way of revealing hidden injustices or as a means to call the nation back to a moral or religious revival.
- Judgment: Some may view Trump’s success as a form of judgment, where God is allowing a figure who brings calamity, or at least moral clarity. His previous beneficial term in office, however, seems to deny any negative judgments on us, but rather, an answer to our prayers for exposing wickedness, saving the unborn, and reducing government.
- Redemption: Alternatively, others might interpret his role as a tool for redemption, seeing his leadership as a means through which God is restoring certain values (e.g., nationalism, traditional family values, smaller government) that they believe align with a biblical vision of society. This seems much more consistent with the impact of his previous term in office.
6. God May Not be in Control: Caution from Other Theological Perspectives
- Open Theism: A theological framework like Open Theism might caution against seeing any individual success as a definitive sign of God’s providential approval. Instead, Open Theists would argue that while God works with human choices, He does not determine them in an exhaustive, meticulous way. From this perspective, Trump’s rise could be seen as a result of human free will, which God integrates into His larger purposes without necessarily endorsing every aspect of Trump’s actions or policies.
- Arminian Views: Arminians, emphasizing human responsibility, might similarly argue that while God can use leaders like Trump for His purposes, not all of their actions are divinely ordained. This viewpoint could interpret Trump’s successes as part of God’s permissive will—allowing human choices to unfold while steering history toward His ultimate goals.
7. God Answers Prayer: Through Which Recent Leaders?
Many evangelical Christians and other religious groups have supported Trump, seeing him as a defender of religious liberty, pro-life policies, or traditional values. From their perspective, his success may be interpreted as God responding to the prayers and desires of His people (2 Chronicles 7:14). This could be seen as providence, where God raises up a leader in answer to the desires of a particular group, even if the leader’s personal life does not fully align with biblical standards. The fall of Roe v. Wade is often seen as a clear answer to prayer under Trump.
Admittedly, some conservatives don’t believe that Trump has delivered significantly enough on many things we’ve prayed for, such as:
- Abortion: Far right conservatives are pushing for a federal abortion ban from conception. Trump is more moderate on this, favoring state legislation more aligned with heartbeat laws.
- Economics: They feel the looming debt is a priority that Trump has not fixed
But his focus on and success on many other matters, not least of which is the fall or Roe v. Wade, peace treaties, and support for Israel may be enough of an answered prayer.
8. Conclusion: God is Behind Trump’s Success
Recognizing Donald Trump’s successes as part of God’s providence requires interpreting these events through the lens of biblical principles. While some may see his rise as evidence of God’s confidential support for a larger divine plan, others may interpret it as God working through flawed individuals or as a means of revealing deeper social issues. Whether one views Trump’s role as positive or negative, the biblical concept of providence allows for the possibility that God is using these events—whether through ordinary means or extraordinary trials—to achieve purposes that may only become clear in hindsight.
But in foresight, if we believe we can recognize God’s sovereignty at all, one would be hard pressed to say that God is not supporting Trump as a blessing and answer to prayer, despite his past moral failures and boorish personality. Time to align with God’s ways, and not our own puritanical views.