Dr. James Dobson, a prominent evangelical leader, psychologist, and former Trump adviser, died Thursday at the age of 89. Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson became one of the most influential voices in American Christian life, advocating for faith, marriage, and family values for more than five decades.
He rose to national prominence in the 1970s after founding Focus on the Family, a ministry that quickly became a leading force in evangelical media and public policy. His daily radio broadcasts reached millions of listeners, airing on over 4,000 stations and in more than 160 countries. His bestselling books, including The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, were widely used by Christian families, churches, and schools.
Dobson’s teachings often warned against cultural shifts that he believed undermined traditional family life, including pornography, gambling, and secularism. He strongly promoted abstinence education, opposed abortion, and consistently advocated for religious liberty, becoming a key voice in both ministry and political arenas.
In 2010, Dobson stepped away from Focus on the Family
and founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI). Through this new platform, he continued his mission via digital media and public policy engagement. Throughout his career, he advised five U.S. presidents and served on Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, helping to solidify the bond between conservative Christians and the Republican administration.
Dobson is remembered as a steadfast advocate for Christian family values. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their two children, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. The JDFI called his passing “the close of a remarkable chapter in American Christian life.”
