A longtime adviser to Donald Trump and one of the most influential voices in American evangelical life, James Dobson died Thursday morning at the age of 89. A trained psychologist, broadcaster, and author, Dobson spent decades promoting traditional family values and became a defining figure in the intersection of faith, culture, and politics in the United States.Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson rose to national prominence in the mid-1970s after founding Focus on the Family in California. The ministry quickly grew into a major evangelical institution dedicated to strengthening marriages, supporting parents, and encouraging faith-based living. By the 1980s and 1990s, his daily radio program aired on more than 4,000 stations across North America and reached listeners in more than 160 countries, becoming one of the world’s most widely heard Christian broadcasts.
Beyond radio, Dobson authored more than 70 books focused on parenting, marriage, and spiritual life. Among his most influential titles were The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, both widely read by Christian families and church communities.In 1991, Focus on the Family moved its headquarters to Colorado Springs, where the organization became a central force in evangelical advocacy on issues such as religious liberty, parenting, and pro-life policy.
After stepping down from Focus on the Family in 2010, Dobson launched the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, continuing his outreach through radio, digital platforms, and public policy work. Over the years, he advised several U.S. presidents and served on Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, helping connect conservative Christian leaders with the White House.Dobson is remembered for his decades-long mission to promote faith-centered family life. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their two children, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren.
