Christian nationalists were that were in effect Friday night at Mar-a-Lago, once again showing their closeness to the MAGA power.
Lance Wallnau – the chief promoter of a ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ for right-wing Christians to seize control of government and culture – was dressed in a tuxedo and streaming live to his 1 million Facebook followers. The black-tie event was the America First Policy Institute’s gala at Trump’s Palm Beach estate, where the former president was scheduled to speak soon.
While filming with his cell phone, Wallnau grabbed fellow believer Jim Garlow — the MAGA pastor with whom current House Speaker Mike Johnson recently prayed to spare a “depraved” America from the “judgment we clearly deserve” ‘. Both religious figures are associated with an evangelical movement called the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, which has an unusual obsession with earthly power. The duo joked during the stream on Friday: “You can read about you in the news lately,” Wallnau told Garlow, referring to Rolling stone‘s coverage of the pastor’s prayer call with Johnson. Garlow replied, “It’s because we’re dangerous – what do they call us? – ‘Christian nationalists.’”
Garlow initially scoffed at the media attention, saying he was “disappointed that they didn’t call us Christians internationalists‘ – reflecting the global ambition of his quest for right-wing Christian supremacy. But then Garlow played the victim: “The phrase ‘Christian nationalist’ has one purpose,” he insisted. “And that is simply to bully Christians — to intimidate and silence them so they don’t get involved in government.” Garlow then claimed that this was done in the service of satanic forces, “so that the enemy can have his way and destroy the country.”
The fact that Garlow and Wallnau were walking around Mar-a-Lago in tuxedos the same week that their religious movement made national news for its disturbing reach into the highest ranks of elected Republican politics was itself a notable sign of that influence. Wallnau shared that Garlow’s online prayer partner — who the pastor has credited with having a “profound influence” on both his life and his “walk with Christ” — was also present. “Mike Johnson is here tonight,” Wallnau said. “I want to hear Mike Johnson. He is being attacked because he is such an outspoken Christian.” (Rolling stone could not independently confirm Johnson’s presence at Mar-a-Lago. The Speaker’s spokesperson did not respond to multiple requests.)
In his banter with Wallnau, Garlow certainly did not distance himself from a Christian nationalist ideology. In fact, he underscored his belief that Christians are meant to be in control – to advance the Kingdom of God across the planet. Garlow even advised Americans to break up with their pastors if religious leaders do not use the pulpit to raise “the issues that God has given us.” Garlow explained, “We don’t just ‘preach’ Jesus. We preach what Jesus preached. He preached the Kingdom… Where is the king speaking? Everything. Everything. Including the governmental and political domain.”
The Friday evening gala at Mar-a-Lago was the culmination of a three-day conference held by the America First Policy Institute. AFPI exists to formulate policy for what MAGA-world expects a second Trump term will be. AFPI leaders include former top Trump administration officials such as Chairman Linda McMahon, a former member of the Trump Cabinet, and CEO Brooke Rollins, who served as director of the Domestic Policy Council in the Trump White House.
Other AFPI executives include Executive Director Chad Wolf, who was the illegally acting head of Homeland Security as the Trump administration battled protesters in the streets of Portland; far-right economist Larry Kudlow; and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, who addressed the AFPI conference on day one.
The AFPI meeting was characterized by a strong Christian undercurrent. Paula White Cain – a key religious influencer in Trump’s inner circle – led the prayer and scripture at an AFPI “Ladies” event, later posting on Instagram: “God moved during our prayer breakfast 🙏🏻.” Televangelist Jentezen Franklin, whose broadcast is mentioned Kingdom connectionwas honored with AFPI’s 2023 Patriot Award along with his wife.
In fact, right-wing religion seems to be woven into AFPI’s DNA. The group’s Chief Digital Officer is Adam W. Schindler. Schindler is also a preacher who works closely with Garlow; they co-founded the World Prayer Network, which hosted the call in which Mike Johnson labeled the rise of LGBTQ children as evidence of America’s “dark” and almost “irredeemable” culture. AFPI has also defended Johnson’s rise to speakership. Rollins, the CEO, wrote one Newsweek op-ed praised Johnson’s choice, calling him “tirelessly optimistic.” Rolling stone sought interviews with Garlow, Wallnau and Rollins; no one responded. Schindler emailed that he is “proud to work at AFPI and support the work we do there.”
As the MAGA movement seeks a return to the White House, religious extremism is no longer marginalized. It is now baked into the cake. Coverage of the AFPI conference included an appearance by Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA. Self-proclaimed Christian nationalist Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also attended the gala.
There were also secular elements, including a performance by country star Wynonna Judd. Bold MAGA names include former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, former Trump spokesman Kellyanne Conway, and former acting attorney general (and toilet promoter for wealthy men) Matt Whitaker. Rollins described the gala evening as “The most magical evening… with 700 closest friends, supporters and partners.”
After the festivities, Wallnau emerged to film a new Facebook Live video. “We are done with our meeting with Trump,” he said before praising the former president’s speech to the crowd at his club, which was not posted online: “Vintage Donald Trump tonight. I mean: focused, funny.” Calling Trump a beacon of competence, Wallnau continued: “I swear if God wants to have mercy on America, this man will get four more years.”
“Without him,” Wallnau continued, warning of God’s wrath, “the sheer stupidity of the leadership decisions taking place is a form of judgment. It’s like having an imbecilic spirit in the country that is destroying itself. No one else is destroying us,” Wallnau explained. “We are destroying ourselves.”
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Christian nationalist. Wallnau predicted that “a powerful move from God is coming for America.” He added in 2024: “I believe God will cause America to rise up.”
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