The Trump administration has framed its military and political efforts in terms of "spiritual warfare," a concept rooted in Christian theology that emphasizes a battle against unseen evil forces. This perspective has gained prominence within the current U.S. leadership, with senior officials linking conventional military actions to a broader cosmic struggle.

At the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently announced the creation of a new religious affairs office, stating that while the U.S. conducts physical warfare, the true battle is spiritual. Vice President JD Vance described experiencing a “weird spiritual dark energy,” and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recounted encountering "evil forces" during the campaign trail. Paula White-Cain, who leads the White House Faith Office, has likened her role to battling malevolent spirits, comparing it to a boxing match with legendary fighters like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

Spiritual warfare, a concept grounded in biblical texts such as Ephesians 6:12, which speaks of struggles against “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” has traditionally referred to personal, internal battles against sin and temptation. Early Christian ascetics viewed it as a fight against desires and distractions, using practices such as prayer, fasting, and scripture reading. More formal rituals can include exorcisms and anointing.

Over recent decades, however, the notion has evolved from an individual spiritual challenge into a partisan framework. In the 1980s, Fuller Theological Seminary missiologist C. Peter Wagner introduced the idea of "strategic level" spiritual warfare, suggesting that demons could control cities and nations and that Christians could expel them through targeted prayer. This concept was popularized by Frank Peretti’s 1986 novel “This Present Darkness,” which portrayed battles between angels and demons over specific geographic locations.

Wagner’s movement, known as the New Apostolic Reformation, advocated for an active mission to combat spiritual forces purportedly governing parts of the world. This group’s influence extended into the Republican Party through a generational shift in evangelical leadership, bringing charismatic Christians into positions of greater political influence. Prominent charismatic figures, including White-Cain, have helped expand their congregations and online followings, contributing to a rise in nondenominational, charismatic Protestantism.

Experts note that this language serves dual purposes: it signals alignment with charismatic Christian constituents and frames political and bureaucratic conflicts as existential struggles. Research indicates that such moral framing can boost voter engagement across parties by elevating elections to matters of cosmic significance.

However, scholars and theologians express concern about the implications of mixing spiritual warfare with politics. Pentecostal theologian Amos Yong cautions that it becomes perilous when combined with conspiracy theories and militant political actions. This fusion has been witnessed in episodes such as the January 6 Capitol riot, where participants invoked spiritual warfare rhetoric. Additionally, the Pentagon has described the conflict with Iran not simply as a geopolitical challenge but as a spiritual confrontation, underscoring the broad application of this framing.

Observers highlight that the depiction of rivals and conflicts in spiritual terms intensifies divisions and magnifies threats beyond traditional political discourse, potentially complicating efforts at dialogue and diplomacy.