Short answer: Donald Trump currently identifies as a non‑denominational Christian. He was raised Presbyterian and long referenced New York’s Marble Collegiate Church (pastored for decades by Norman Vincent Peale), though the church said in 2015 he was not an active member.
Quick answer
- Present identification: Non‑denominational Christian (stated in 2020)
- Background: Raised Presbyterian; family attended Marble Collegiate Church; influenced by Peale’s “positive thinking/prosperity” outlook
- Membership note: Marble Collegiate said he wasn’t an active member despite his references to the church
Brief background
- Raised Presbyterian and for years described himself as a “Presbyterian Protestant.”
- Frequently cited Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, where Norman Vincent Peale—the “Power of Positive Thinking” pastor—was a major influence on Trump and his family. NPR notes a correction that Trump was not baptized there.
- In 2020, he said he now considers himself a non‑denominational Christian.
Timeline
- 2015: Trump says he attends Marble Collegiate; the church responds he is not an “active member.”
- 2016: Coverage highlights Peale/Marble Collegiate influence and “positive thinking”/prosperity themes.
- 2020: Trump says he is a non‑denominational Christian (after previously identifying as Presbyterian) — covered by Christianity Today.
Note on baptism claims
There are social posts and videos claiming Donald Trump was baptized at the International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV) in September/October 2020. I could not find any credible reporting to confirm an ICLV baptism:
- Local coverage indicates he attended an ICLV service on October 18, 2020; reports describe prayer and attendance, not baptism. (KLAS 8 News Now; AP via News3LV)
- The contemporaneous Religion News Service interview where Trump said he now identifies as non‑denominational does not mention a baptism. (RNS interview)
- Earlier-life rite: Trump has said he was confirmed at a Presbyterian church as a child; NPR notes a correction that he was not baptized at Marble Collegiate Church. (NPR article with correction)
Sources
- PC(USA): “Once claiming to be Presbyterian, Trump now says he’s a ‘nondenominational Christian’.” (PC(USA) article)
- NPR: “Donald Trump and a church steeped in ‘positive thinking’” (with correction re: baptism). (NPR article)
- CNN: “Church says Donald Trump is not an ‘active member’.” (CNN report)
- Christianity Today: “Trump Becomes the First President Since Eisenhower to Change Faiths in Office” (Oct. 27, 2020). (CT article)
- Religion News Service interview: “Trump, confirmed a Presbyterian, now identifies as ‘non‑denominational Christian’.” (RNS interview)
Related note: Trump and the Ten Commandments
Last updated: 2025‑10‑20