NO USE USA

Lower thirds:

0:03  Report by / Ines Pohl
0:17  Christian Browning
0:29  Dr. Stephen Schneck, Political philosopher 
0:52  Clayton Boone
1:13  Christian Browning 
2:49  Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington 
3:01  Pope Leo XIV 
3:08  Dr. Stephen Schneck 
3:34  Christian Browning 

Script:
In the United States under Donald Trump, religion and politics are becoming increasingly intertwined. The president surrounds himself with pastors and religious leaders. And among many young conservative men, Christianity is making a comeback. 

Christian Browning (18) 
“I would say I’m a Catholic. I would say I’m a Republican, but I’m most importantly a Catholic.” 

VO 
For Trump, this religious revival has become an important political power base. 

Dr. Stephen Schneck, Political philosopher 
“The future of Trumpism could be exactly this welding together of Christian nationalism and populist nationalism.” 

VO 
I first met Christian, Clayton and Logan at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC — the largest gathering of conservative Republicans in the United States. Religious symbols are everywhere here, and that is no coincidence. 

Clayton Boone (25) 
“Catholicism is the starting point. We get our morality, our values from the Catholic Church, from the Bible.” 

VO 
GenZ was long considered the least religious generation in modern American history. Now, that appears to be changing. 

Christian invited us to his home — a farm in Maryland. 

Christian Browning (18) 
“You gotta be strong in faith, intellect and physical prowess.” 

VO 
For these young men, religion is not only about spirituality. It offers structure, certainty and belonging. 

Clayton Boone (25) 
“In America, it feels like we have everything — all the comforts we could want. But you have this depression problem with Gen Z. Why do you have these high suicide rates? We know that we’re missing something deeper in our soul.” 

Christian Browning (18) 
“The more deep in my faith I get, the more alienated you are from modern society.” 

VO 
And faith also shapes their views on some of the country’s most divisive issues, particularly abortion.  

Christian Browning (18) 
“Life does start at conception. These are issues that shouldn’t really be debated. One is true, one is wrong, one is evil, one is good.” 

VO 
A recent Gallup poll shows a sharp rise in religiosity among young American men. Forty-two percent now say religion is “very important” in their lives — up from 28 percent just two years ago. 

And among young Republican men, monthly church attendance has risen from 40 to 52 percent since 2018. 

VO 
But not all Christian communities in the United States support Trump or Trumpism. Liberal and moderate churches are increasingly outspoken against ICE raids and the mass deportations under the current administration. 

Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington 
“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country, who are scared now. The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors.” 

VO 
And Pope Leo XIV has increasingly distanced himself from the US president. 

Location tag: TKTK 
Date tag: TKTK  
 
Pope Leo XIV 
“I have no fear of either the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly about the message of the gospel.” 

Dr. Stephen Schneck 
“Pope Leo has moral authority that transcends whatever political authority Trump might have in this world. I think Pope Leo XIV is probably Trump’s biggest problem right now.” 

VO 
And even among young conservative Catholics, support for Donald Trump is not unlimited. 

Christian Browning (18) 
“Trump is… I mean, I thought he was a great leader. I think he was phenomenal in 2016. I disagree with some of the stuff he’s doing right now. And unfortunately, wearing a MAGA hat is not going to get me into heaven.” 

END