Backlash to Christian nationalism: The impact of the January 6 th insurrection on Americans’ religiosity and political partisanship

This article examines reactions to the Christian nationalist imagery and rhetoric employed during the January 6 th , 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. We find evidence of both religious and partisan backlash among people who recalled evidence of Christian nationalism displayed by the January 6 th rioters. Among Independents and Republicans who recalled religious symbols on January 6 th , their overall religiosity declined. We also find that January 6 th led not only to religious backlash but also partisan backlash—generally lessening favorability toward Donald Trump and Republicans and even leading Republicans to change their party identification.