What is a “Jezebel spirit”? Some Christians use the term to paint Kamala Harris with a demonic brush

This is what Christian nationalist leaders say to their followers Vice President Kamala Harris is under the influence of a “Jezebel spirit,” using a term with deeply racist and misogynistic roots that is setting off alarm bells among religious and political scientists.

The concept is inspired by the biblical story of the evil Queen Jezebel, who persecuted prophets and was punished with a terrible death. The word “Jezebel” was used during slavery and throughout U.S. history to describe black women and portray them as openly sexual and untrustworthy.

In the context of “Jezebel spirit,” the term has a sinister connotation, suggesting that the person is under the influence of demons spiritual struggle between good and evil. People who have studied this January 6th Uprising warn against similar rhetoric spiritual warfare drove many to the US Capitol that day.

“People … hear that this woman is possessed by a demonic spirit that is harsh and terrible, hates men, hates authority and will do whatever she wants,” said Anthea Butler, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the Book “White Evangelical Racism”, which deals with the New Apostolic Reformation.

The term, Butler said, is coded language to communicate that the person — a woman, usually a Democrat, a Black person or a multiracial person — is not an acceptable candidate. Harris is a Christian and BaptistBut when faith leaders associate her with Jezebel, Butler says it falsely suggests she is not a Christian.

Where does the term come from?

In the Old Testament, Jezebel is one of the most evil villains. She was a foreign-born queen who wielded great power, persecuted prophets, and worshiped false gods. Ultimately, as punishment, she was thrown out of a window, trampled by a horse, and then eaten by dogs.

Later in the Bible, a Jezebel appears as a false prophet who announces the end times and encourages sexual promiscuity.

The term has long been used against women, particularly black women, in the United States. During slavery times, the idea was used to justify systematic sexual assault and rape of black women and girls. It has been used in the past to target other women such as Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama and to categorize movements such as feminism, abortion rights and LGBTQ+ rights.

It’s dangerous to conceptualize female candidates through the “Jezebel spirit,” said Tamura Lomax, author of the book “Jezebel Unhinged” and associate professor of religious studies at Michigan State University.

“Any woman who comes into her power in any way is seen as this Jezebel who deserves violence,” she said.

Who uses the term? And why?

The usage comes from a politicized movement of charismatic Christianity called the New Apostolic Reformation, a decentralized but highly networked movement whose leaders widely teach that demonic forces are involved in spiritual warfare and can speak through people. In this case, the Jezebel spirit is a demon at work on earth and possesses the characteristics of the Jezebel of the Bible.

The language is being used to mobilize and catalyze Christians with apocalyptic sensibilities with the message that the next election is a matter of “say or die,” said Matthew Taylor, whose new book, “The Violent Take It By Force,” is a story of the New Apostolic Reformation provides and describes in detail its influence on the January 6th uprising.

“It is used as a tool to justify aggression,” Taylor said. “Christians should love their enemies. … But Christians are allowed to hate demons.”

And some people may use that militant rhetoric to justify real-world violence, he said.

The movement was prominently displayed on Jan. 6, Taylor said, when worshipers waged a “spiritual war” at the Capitol. During the attack, people sang religious songs, prayed and blew the shofar – a horn in Jewish tradition adopted by Christian nationalists, inspired by its use in the biblical Battle of Jericho.

Since that day, Taylor said, talk of spiritual warfare in American politics has increased tremendously.

Christian nationalism is a fusion of American and Christian identities that gives Christianity a privileged place in American public life.

Wallnau, who has 1 million Facebook followers, is considered a prophet of the New Apostolic Reformation, according to Taylor, and says he receives messages directly from God. He was an early evangelical supporter of Trump and remains close to his campaign. Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance recently appeared at an event organized by Wallnau.

The Trump and Harris campaigns did not respond to requests for comment.

Wallnau posted a video on and added. “She can look presidential and that is the seduction of what I would call witchcraft.” In another video, he said Harris is “an amalgam of the spirit of Jezebel in a way that will be even more threatening than Hillary (Clinton) because she has a racist component and is younger.”

Meanwhile, Trump is described by some preachers with ties to the New Apostolic Reformation as being anointed by God and fighting on the side of the angels.

Wallnau did not respond to the AP’s attempts to reach him for comment. But after backlash over his use of “Jezebel spirit” rhetoric, Wallnau posted on X to clarify his thoughts on Harris.

“For the record, Kamala is not a demon and no living soul on planet Earth is a demon. However, people, political parties and organizational structures can be under demonic influence,” Wallnau wrote on September 29th.

The language has also seeped into election campaigns. In Indiana, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor said the choice is between “strength and divine boldness” on the state’s Republican slate and the “Jezebel spirit” on the Democratic slate, led by three women .

Micah Beckwith, a pastor and self-described Christian nationalist, did not respond to voicemails and text messages seeking clarity on his comment. Beckwith told this IndyStar this month that his comment was not about gender but about democratic ideas.

On October 12, thousands gathered in prayer on the National Mall, where Ché Ahn, a leader of the New Apostolic Reformation, declared that Trump was a “type of Jehu,” the biblical figure who overthrew Jezebel’s rule and ordered her death. Ahn, who did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment, implored the crowd to get out and vote.

“I decide in faith that Trump will win on November 5th,” he told the crowd. “He will be our 47th president and Kamala Harris will be excluded.”

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Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan, and Smith reported from Providence, Rhode Island