President Donald Trump and members of his administration have long used allegations of anti-Christian discrimination as a rallying cry for supporters, arguing that policies and laws on issues like school prayer and LGBTQ+ rights threaten Christians' right to express their beliefs. Weeks into his second term, Trump took action, signing an executive order on 'Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias.' The order vowed to 'protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government' by identifying anti-Christian conduct and recommending policy changes. In mid-April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed employees in the State Department to report any incidents of such bias that occurred during the Biden administration. Many critics contest claims of widespread discrimination against Christians in U.S. society, given that Christians are the country's largest faith group and benefit from associated privileges. Consider how Christmas is recognized as a federal holiday, whereas other faiths' major holidays are not....

Political scientist Eric McDaniel defines Christian nationalism as the belief that the United States was founded to be a Christian nation. 'In this view,' according to McDaniel, 'America can be governed only by Christians, and the country's mission is directed by a divine hand.' Why does the idea resonate with some but alarm others' Scholars often portray Christian nationalism as rooted in a deep-seated desire to exclude non-Christians and people of color from American society. Historians point to a persistent link between racism and Christian nationalism among white Americans throughout U.S. history. White Christians, however, are not the only ones sympathetic to Christian nationalist ideas. Nearly 40% of Black Protestants and 55% of Hispanic Protestants agree with statements such as 'being Christian is an important part of being truly American.' Interestingly, over one-third of Muslims agree that the U.S. government should promote Christian moral values but not make it the official religion....

SB360 Capital Partners, chaired by American Eagle's CEO Jay Schottenstein, also took part in the deal. True Religion stated that the acquisition would support the expansion of its product range and global presence. True Religion filed for bankruptcy protection five years ago. It has staged a revival by capitalising on its strong ties to hip-hop culture. For instance, in 2023 the brand achieved a 20% increase in sales, reaching $280m. Equally, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) reached $80m. The investment in True Religion is part of a broader trend of decades-old independent brands finding new owners. Specifically, the 40-year-old Japanese menswear label Kapital was acquired by LVMH-backed private equity firm L Catterton. Similarly, Vera Wang was purchased by brand management firm WHP Global in December. Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

My immigrant parents'my father especially'are ardent Christians. As such, my childhood seemed to differ dramatically from the glimpses of American life I witnessed at school or on television. My parents often spoke of their regimented, cloistered upbringings in Nigeria, and their belief that Americans are too lax. They devised a series of schemes to keep us on the straight and narrow: At home, we listened to an unending stream of gospel music and watched Christian programming on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The centerpiece of their strategy, however, was daily visits to our small Nigerian church, in North Texas. I quickly discerned a gap between the fist-pumping, patriotic Christianity that I saw on TV and the earnest, yearning faith that I experienced in church. On TV, it seemed that Christianity was not only a means of achieving spiritual salvation but also a tool for convincing the world of America's preeminence. Africa was mentioned frequently on TBN, but almost exclusively as a destination for white American missionaries. On-screen, they would appear dour and sweaty as they distributed food, clothes, and Bibles to hordes of seemingly bewildered yet appreciative Black people. The ministers spoke of how God's love'and, of course, the support of the audience'made such donations possible, but the subtext was much louder: God had blessed America, and now America was blessing everyone else....