On Tuesday, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin wrote an essay about how the conservative Christian movement has effectively been co-opted by Donald Trump. Jesus may bind them together in theory, but Trumpism brings them together in practice.

I have a major nit to pick with the piece but let me first acknowledge what Rubin gets right.

Her overall claim makes sense, and we know that because whenever the two worlds collided during the Trump presidency — when it came to treating others with respect, or caring for the poor, or telling the truth — those conservative Christians made it clear they were on Trump’s side no matter what. The symbolism of a MAGA hat always outweighed the symbolism of the cross. Trump’s constant stream of blatant bullshit and cruelty was acceptable to white evangelicals in exchange for a slew of right-wing judges with lifetime appointments.