Religious Identity, Politics, and the Media: What White Evangelical Christian Women's Religious Identity Reveals About Their Endorsement of Donald J. Trump and Distrust of News Outlets.

This study investigates how white evangelical Christian women's social and religious identity shapes their political views, voting behavior, and perceptions of out-groups, including news media. Using qualitative methods—focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 47 participants from western U.S. states—the research finds that these women see their religious identity as central to their lives, fostering a strong in-group cohesion and an "us versus them" mentality toward liberals, Democrats, and mainstream media, which they largely distrust and perceive as biased or anti-Christian. Their support for Donald J. Trump is framed as a defense of their religious and moral values, viewing him as a strong leader confronting perceived threats to their identity, despite acknowledging his personal flaws. The participants primarily consume conservative news sources, reinforcing their worldview and political allegiance within a right-leaning media environment.