The relationship between the current administration and a particular religious movement is certainly more pervasive and more open than anything I can recall. America has never had an official state religion. There always has been though, IMO, a tendency to conflate religion with nationalism. Every church seems to have an American flag displayed prominently next to its religious symbols and there is has always seemingly been a barely disguised notion that we are more virtuous by virtue of being God's chosen nation. I'm sure that's not unique but it seems a dangerous notion, especially these days. Once we've decided that we have God's mandate, we can justify doing anything, and do it, as Lewis said, with the approval of [our] own conscience.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken