Most white evangelicals satisfied with Trump’s initial response

Most white evangelicals satisfied with Trump’s initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak President Donald Trump has received high marks from white evangelical Protestants on a range of issues throughout his time in office. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has proved no different – at least in the initial phase of the crisis, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted March 10 to 16. Around three-quarters of white evangelicals (77%) say they are at least somewhat confident that Trump is doing a good job responding to the outbreak, and nearly two-thirds (64%) say Trump has assessed the risks of the situation correctly. By comparison, about half of Americans overall (52%) say Trump has underplayed the risks, including majorities who say this among the religiously unaffiliated (64%), black Protestants (67%) and Jews (73%). U.S. public sees multiple threats from the coronavirus – and concerns are growing Americans immersed in COVID-19 news; most think media are doing fairly well covering it When Americans think about a specific religion, here are some of the first people who come to mind Who is the first person who comes to mind when you think of Catholicism? If your answer contains the word “pope,” you’re in good company. More than half of U.S. adults name the pope (47%) or a specific pope (7%) when asked that question, according to a new analysis of a Pew Research Center survey that asked respondents to name the first person who comes to mind when they think about Catholicism, Buddhism, evangelical Protestantism, Islam, Judaism and atheism. For most of the groups, U.S adults are most likely to name a religious leader or historical figure from that religion – but when it comes to atheism, Americans are much less likely to name a well-known figure. Media mentions The faithful response to coronavirus: Protect one another March 17 - CNN U.S. Hispanic Catholics are future, but priest numbers dismal March 14 - The Associated Press Survey: White evangelicals see Trump as ‘honest’ and ‘morally upstanding’ March 12 - NPR How religious institutions are responding to coronavirus ‘There are no funerals:’ Death in quarantine leaves nowhere to grieve March 19 - Reuters A megachurch has nearly 1,000 people tested for coronavirus in two days March 19 - The Washington Post * Many pastors follow coronavirus rules but some defy them March 19 - The Associated Press Congregations improvise ways to fight COVID-19’s isolation March 18 - Religion News Service Thousands of Muslim pilgrims ignore virus risk to gather in Indonesia March 18 - Reuters This is not the end of the world, according to Christians who study the end of the world March 17 - The Washington Post * In Italy and beyond, churches grapple with coronavirus March 17 - Politico  Iran warns virus could kill ‘millions’ in Islamic Republic March 17 - The Associated Press A Sunday without church: In crisis, a nation asks, ‘What is community?’ March 15 - The New York Times * Pray and wash: Religion joins with science amid virus crisis March 12 - The Associated Press Support Pew Research Center Please support Pew Research Center with a contribution on the Center’s behalf to our parent organization, The Pew Charitable Trusts. DONATE