James Dobson, a prominent evangelical Christian leader, psychologist, and former adviser to Donald Trump, has died at the age of 89, according to statements released Thursday. Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson became one of the most influential voices in American evangelical Christianity. Through radio broadcasts, public advocacy, and bestselling books, he spent decades promoting traditional family values and encouraging faith-centered parenting and marriage.
Dobson first rose to national prominence in the 1970s after founding Focus on the Family in California. The ministry quickly grew into a major evangelical institution addressing family life and cultural issues. By the 1980s and 1990s, Dobson’s daily radio program was broadcast on more than 4,000 stations across North America and distributed in 27 languages to audiences in over 160 countries. In 1991, the organization moved its headquarters to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where it continues to operate today. Under Dobson’s leadership, Focus on the Family became a powerful voice within the evangelical movement, advocating for positions on marriage, parenting, religious liberty, and pro-life issues. Dobson also authored more than 70 books on faith, parenting, and marriage. Notable works include The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, both widely read among Christian families and churches.
After stepping down from Focus on the Family in 2010, Dobson established the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute to continue promoting Christian family values through media outreach and public policy engagement. His influence extended into politics, advising several U.S. presidents including George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Trump. Dobson also served on Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, helping connect conservative Christian communities with the White House. Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their two children, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren. In a statement, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute described his passing as “the close of a remarkable chapter in American Christian life.”
