Former Top Trump Adviser Passes Away Suddenly
A former top Trump adviser who was also a psychologist and evangelical leader and whose advocacy for family values shaped American culture and politics for half a century, died Thursday morning at the age of 89.
Dr. James Dobson, born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, became one of the most recognizable voices in American evangelical Christianity. Known for his daily broadcasts and bestselling books, he reached millions of families with a message that faith, marriage, and child-rearing should remain at the heart of American life, The New York Times reported.
“Dr. Dobson was a pioneer — a man of deep conviction whose voice shaped the way generations view faith, family, and culture,” Gary Bauer, senior vice president of public policy at the JDFI, said in a statement. “His bold leadership, integrity, and compassion helped equip countless families to thrive in a world of shifting values. He was a mentor, a counselor, and a steady voice of truth in turbulent times.”
Dobson began his career as a clinical psychologist but rose to prominence in the mid-1970s when he founded Focus on the Family (FOTF) in California. The ministry grew rapidly, establishing itself as a central hub for evangelical engagement with issues of family life and cultural change.
Our prayers are with the family of Dr. James Dobson, who went home to be with his Savior today after a brief illness. Dr. Dobson was a staunch defender of the family and stood for morality and Biblical values as much as any person in our country’s history. For nearly five… pic.twitter.com/I8QuP8Y1EQ
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 21, 2025
By the 1980s and 1990s, Dobson’s daily radio broadcasts were heard on more than 4,000 stations across North America. The program, translated into 27 languages and distributed in more than 160 countries, became one of the most widely listened-to Christian radio shows in the world.
In 1991, FOTF relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where it remains headquartered today. Under Dobson’s leadership, the organization became a driving force in the broader evangelical movement, championing positions on marriage, parenting, religious liberty, and pro-life advocacy.
Beyond broadcasting, Dobson authored more than 70 books on marriage, parenting, and spiritual life. Among his most influential works were The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, both of which sold millions of copies and were widely used by Christian families, churches, and schools.
His writings and broadcasts frequently warned against cultural shifts he believed undermined the traditional family, including pornography, gambling, and declining church involvement. He also championed efforts to reduce teen pregnancy, encouraged abstinence education, and strongly defended the sanctity of life from conception.
After stepping away from FOTF in 2010, Dobson founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. While smaller in scope, the JDFI continued his mission of promoting gospel-centered values, primarily through radio, digital outreach, and public policy engagement.
Dobson’s influence extended into the political arena. Over the years, he advised five U.S. presidents, including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump. He was a member of Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board and played a role in connecting conservative Christian communities to the White House.
Dobson was deeply engaged in shaping policy debates around religious liberty and morality. His reach into both faith and politics made him one of the most significant Christian leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Dobson’s legacy is defined by his tireless efforts to defend what he considered timeless truths about faith and family. Generations of listeners credit him with strengthening marriages, guiding parents, and offering hope in times of crisis.
The minister is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, two children, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren.
In a statement, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute called his passing “the close of a remarkable chapter in American Christian life,” adding that his influence “will continue to ripple through churches, families, and communities for decades to come.”
