Trump leans into religious extremism to energize rightwing evangelicals

Ex-president turning to Christian nationalists for support as Kamala Harris's potential nomination poses hard challenge

Donald Trump, now facing a tougher challenge in the US election after Joe Biden stepped down in favor of Kamala Harris, is increasingly leaning into religious extremism aimed at energizing a key section of his support base: socially conservative Christians.

Fears that Trump would be an authoritarian leader if elected seemed to be realized last week, when he told a group of Christian supporters they would not have to vote" in four years if he becomes president.