The Role of Evangelicals in the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy: Case Studies of the Relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the Abraham Accords

Abstract

United States foreign policy toward Israel has consistently been influenced by a range of structural, security-related, and ideological factors. Among these, the evangelical movement has played a prominent and distinctive role. This study aims to explain and analyze the role of evangelicals in shaping the foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration, focusing on two significant and unprecedented developments: the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the Abraham Accords. The study employs a descriptive-analytical method, with data collected from documents, speeches, and the findings of credible scholarly research. The analysis indicates that the Trump administration aligned itself with evangelical theological discourse more closely than any previous administration and employed this discourse as an instrument for legitimizing its decisions in the Middle East. The relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which had faced opposition from domestic groups and international institutions for decades, was directly associated with pressure from evangelical networks and Christian Zionist lobbying groups and was ultimately implemented under the Trump administration. Furthermore, the Abraham Accords were regarded not merely as a geopolitical agreement, but also as a response to the expectations of conservative religious groups seeking to strengthen Israel’s position within the regional order. The findings demonstrate that evangelical religious ideology—including belief in biblical promises concerning Israel—transcended the realm of identity under the Trump administration and was elevated to the levels of policymaking and operational implementation. This article concludes that the relationship between foreign policy and religious beliefs during the Trump era developed into a form of strategic convergence, which will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.