Trump's Principles of Propaganda

When Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14253, calling for the removal of so-called “anti-American ideology” from federal museums and historical institutions, many shrugged it off as mere politics. But as Christians, we are not called to shrug at manipulation—we are called to discern. What this order reveals is not the restoration of truth, but the replacement of it. And as followers of Jesus, we must reject propaganda no matter who is spreading it.

This kind of political behavior echoes something deeply troubling: the methods of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda. Goebbels didn’t just lie—he perfected the strategy of repeating lies until they felt like truth, turning dissenters into enemies, and rewriting the past to control the future. These are not tactics of godly leadership. They are marks of spiritual deception and authoritarianism.

Jesus told us plainly: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). But this executive order does not promote truth—it conceals it. By forcing museums to sanitize American history and remove anything “divisive,” the order attempts to erase the sins of the past instead of confronting them. But biblical truth doesn’t cover sin with patriotic paint—it exposes sin so that healing and repentance can follow. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

Trump’s strategy mirrors Goebbels’ propaganda principles in other ways. He used slogans like “Make America Great Again” not as policy goals, but as emotional anchors—tools to stir loyalty and suppress criticism. He weaponized distrust, labeling the press “the enemy of the people,” discrediting courts, government agencies, and any institution that dared to question him. This is not the behavior of a servant-leader. This is the strategy of control, not conviction.

He also created scapegoats, stirring fear of immigrants, minorities, political opponents, and even fellow Republicans who disagreed with him. Instead of pointing people to God, he pointed them to himself. And tragically, too many Christians followed—not because of Scripture, but because of fear and anger. That is not Christian discipleship. That is idolatry.

We must remember that Christianity is not about protecting our national image—it’s about pursuing righteousness. It’s not about rewriting history—it’s about acknowledging it, repenting, and building something better through Christ. When we see efforts to erase the past rather than confess it, we are not seeing the gospel at work—we’re seeing political manipulation masquerading as moral clarity.

This is why Trump’s executive order is dangerous. It demands loyalty not to truth, but to a curated narrative that comforts pride and conceals sin. That is the opposite of the gospel. The gospel confronts sin, even when it’s ugly. Jesus never told His followers to ignore injustice in the name of unity. He told them to take up their cross and follow Him in truth, humility, and repentance.

As Christians, our loyalty must never be to a man, a movement, or a party. It must be to the kingdom of God. We are called to speak the truth in love, even when it costs us. We are called to resist falsehood, even when it’s wrapped in red, white, and blue. And we are called to stand for justice and truth, even when our own history makes us uncomfortable. Because only the truth can set us free.

The United States is not Nazi Germany, and Donald Trump is not Adolf Hitler. But when the Church ignores dangerous patterns, when we excuse propaganda for the sake of power, we risk becoming silent partners in a lie. And Scripture has warned us: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).

We must not be silent. We must be discerning. And above all, we must be faithful to the truth—no matter how inconvenient it may be.

Works Cited

Orwell, George. 1984. Harvill Secker, 1949.

Welch, David. Propaganda: Power and Persuasion. British Library, 2013.

Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Crown Publishing, 2017.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House, 2015. John 8:32; Ephesians 5:11; Isaiah 5:20.

United States, Executive Office of the President. Executive Order 14253: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. 27 Mar. 2025.

“Trump Signs Executive Order Accusing Smithsonian Institution of Spreading ‘Anti-American Ideology.’” Reuters, 27 Mar. 2025.

“Trump Orders Smithsonian Museums to Remove All ‘Divisive Narratives.’” People Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025.

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