By Charles Gibson

As America approaches another critical election cycle, the specter of Christian nationalism looms larger than ever over the political landscape. It’s no secret that Donald Trump, the man who has become the figurehead of this movement, is not a religious person. His familiarity with the Bible is dubious at best. Yet, Trump has become a willing participant, a “useful idiot” in the service of religious extremists who have found a pathway to power through his presidency.

These extremists, emboldened by their influence, are using Trump as a vehicle to enact their draconian policies. They saw this most clearly with the overturning of Roe v. Wade—a monumental victory for those who seek to impose their narrow interpretation of Christianity on the entire nation. But their ambitions don’t stop there. With Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump administration, they are already planning to take their agenda even further.

Imagine a future where abortion is banned nationwide, where access to IVF and contraception is prohibited, where gay marriage is outlawed, and where even the notion of “recreational sex” is criminalized. These are not the ravings of a fringe group—they are the goals of a movement that has infiltrated the highest levels of power in this country. The man rumored to be the chief of staff in a potential second Trump administration is a self-proclaimed Christian nationalist, fully committed to this vision.

What they are witnessing is the rise of a Christian Taliban, a group that is not only perverting the Christian faith but also subverting the very foundations of our democracy. They seek to impose a theocratic rule, one that erases the separation of church and state and forces their beliefs on every citizen, regardless of their faith or lack thereof.

Some people witness the testing ground of these ideas every day at the Texas Capitol, they can tell you that the threat is real. In states like Texas, they are already implementing their extremist agenda: banning abortion, forcing teachers to display the Ten Commandments, replacing trained school counselors with unqualified chaplains, and defunding public schools to subsidize private Christian institutions. These are not isolated actions—they are part of a coordinated strategy to reshape America in their image.

They are sleepwalking toward theocracy, and the urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. The time to act is now. They must recognize the dangers posed by Christian nationalism and mobilize to protect our democracy before it’s too late. This is not just a political battle; it is a fight for the soul of the nation. If they fail to act, they risk losing the very freedoms that define them as Americans.

They must stand up to those who would turn our democracy into a theocracy, and they must do so with the full force of their convictions. The stakes have never been higher, and the time for complacency is over.