What Church Does Donald Trump Attend?
1. Early Presbyterian Background
Donald Trump was raised in a Presbyterian family. As a child, he was confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, and attended Sunday school there. This connection reflected his family’s roots in the Reformed Protestant tradition, where emphasis is placed on God’s sovereignty and Scripture’s authority.
Key features of his Presbyterian background:
Confirmation – Trump publicly professed faith in Christ as a youth.
Catechism – He was taught Bible basics in Sunday school.
Family involvement – The Trump family regularly attended worship in Queens.
While this Presbyterian identity shaped his early religious life, later decades reveal a more complex relationship with church affiliation.
2. Connection to Marble Collegiate Church
Later, Trump and his parents attended Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, where Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was pastor. Peale was famous for his book The Power of Positive Thinking, which influenced Trump’s outlook.
At Marble Collegiate:
Trump and his parents regularly attended Peale’s services.
Trump was married there, linking his family milestones to the church.
The church later clarified, however, that Trump was not an active member, despite his long association.
This demonstrates a distinction between attending a church and belonging to one as a committed member.
3. Occasional Church Attendance in Public Life
In more recent decades, particularly during his presidency, Trump was observed attending services at various churches. Examples include:
St. John’s Episcopal Church, across from the White House, long known as the “Church of the Presidents.”
Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida, where he and Melania were married.
Visits to evangelical megachurches during campaign seasons.
These visits, however, did not indicate consistent membership. They were often tied to presidential tradition, family occasions, or political visibility.
4. Trump’s Identification as a Non-Denominational Christian
In October 2020, Trump stated in an interview that he now considers himself a non-denominational Christian. This reflects a growing trend in American Christianity, where individuals identify as Christian without formal ties to a single denomination.
Key aspects of this identification:
Flexibility – Non-denominational Christians often move freely between different church traditions.
Personal faith focus – Emphasis on individual belief rather than denominational loyalty.
Cultural reflection – Many Americans today identify as Christian while not maintaining formal church membership.
This shift reflects the broader religious landscape, where identity can be personal rather than institutional.
5. The Biblical Perspective on Belonging to the Church
The question, What church does Donald Trump attend? also invites a deeper reflection: what does it mean, biblically, to belong to the church?
According to the Bible:
The true church is Christ’s body – “He is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18).
Believers are called to gather together – “Do not neglect to meet together” (Hebrews 10:25).
Membership is not optional – Christians are called to be part of a local assembly of believers (Acts 2:42–47).
Faith is more than attendance – Jesus warned that outward association is not enough (Matthew 7:21–23).
Thus, while Trump has a history of occasional attendance and denominational shifts, the ultimate question is one of spiritual identity: is one truly joined to Christ and His people through faith?
6. The Gospel and Public Figures
When discussing figures like Donald Trump, it is easy to focus on outward religious identity. Yet the gospel reminds us that salvation is not found in denominational labels but in Christ Himself.
The gospel is bigger than political affiliation – Romans 1:16 calls it the “power of God for salvation.”
Leaders are accountable to God – Psalm 2 calls kings and rulers to serve the Lord with fear.
The true church transcends borders and denominations – Revelation 7:9 shows a multitude from every nation worshiping the Lamb.
This perspective reminds us that while Trump’s church attendance is a matter of public record, the deeper question is about his standing before God, which only the Lord knows perfectly.
7. The Church in the Last Days
Finally, considering Trump’s shifting affiliations offers a reminder of the church’s role in the last days. The Bible describes times when people will have “the appearance of godliness, but deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). True faith must be rooted in Christ’s kingdom, not in social or political institutions.
The universal church is called to bear witness to Christ regardless of earthly leaders. Whether presidents or ordinary citizens, all must stand before Christ the Judge. Thus, the question of Trump’s church attendance ultimately points us back to the eternal reality: belonging to Christ’s church is about salvation, discipleship, and the hope of His coming reign.
Conclusion
So, What church does Donald Trump attend? Historically, he was confirmed in a Presbyterian church, spent years associated with Marble Collegiate under Norman Vincent Peale, and attended various Episcopal and evangelical churches during his public life. However, since 2020, he identifies as a non-denominational Christian without formal church membership.
This history illustrates the difference between occasional attendance and covenantal belonging. The Bible calls all people, including leaders, to belong to Christ’s body, the church, not merely as attendees but as disciples. Ultimately, the gospel—not politics, tradition, or personal identity—defines what it means to be part of the church of Jesus Christ.
Bible Verses About Belonging to the Church
Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
John 13:35 – “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Romans 12:5 – “We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
Ephesians 2:19 – “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
Ephesians 4:15–16 – “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Colossians 1:18 – “He is the head of the body, the church.”
Hebrews 10:25 – “Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another.”
Revelation 7:9 – “A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation… standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
