In a video message recorded from the White House's Oval Office, former President Donald Trump read a passage from the Bible, specifically 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, during an event titled "America Reads the Bible." This event, described on its website as a "sacred opportunity to call our nation back to its spiritual foundation," was livestreamed by Great American Media, a Texas-based company focused on family and faith content.
Context of the Bible Reading
The reading took place on a Tuesday and was part of a weeklong Bible-reading marathon organized by the Family Policy Alliance Foundation through its ministry, Christians Engaged. This conservative lobbying group has advocated for defunding abortion providers and restricting transgender medical care. Other Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are expected to participate in the event.
Recent Controversies Involving Trump
Trump's appearance comes after a series of recent actions that have sparked scrutiny and division among his devout supporters. In early April, he faced criticism for threatening to wipe out Iranian civilization while pressuring the country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil tankers. Pope Leo XIV condemned Trump's remarks as "truly unacceptable," leading to a social media backlash from Trump, who called the pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy."
Additionally, Trump recently posted an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus tending to an ill man, which some conservative supporters labeled as blasphemous. When questioned by reporters, Trump claimed he thought the image portrayed him as a doctor.
Political and Religious Implications
The fallout from these incidents has placed the Republican party in a challenging position as lawmakers prepare for the 2026 midterms. A recent Pew poll indicates that over 80% of American Catholics view Pope Leo favorably. Despite controversies, including a hush-payment scandal involving a former porn actor, evangelical Christians remain a core voting bloc for Trump.
On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump pledged to "bring back Christianity" and has increasingly blurred the lines between state and church. Last year, he established a Religious Liberty Commission to address issues such as voluntary prayer time in public schools and the First Amendment rights of pastors. Dan Patrick, Texas's lieutenant governor and commission chair, recently criticized Democrats as the "anti-God left."
Statements from Organizers
Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged, commented on the event, stating, "We're making a statement during this week as America reads the Bible, that there is so much in the Bible that we can gain wisdom and discernment from, there is so much that can heal our families, that can rescue us from depression and anxiety and can heal our inner cities and heal our land ... I believe the president's saying that by reading this scripture specifically."
The exchange with the pope has also brought renewed attention to Trump's childhood, during which he attended a Manhattan church led by a pastor who opposed John F. Kennedy's presidential candidacy due to Kennedy's Catholic beliefs.
