This week, President Donald Trump is set to engage in a public Bible reading, showcasing the administration's ongoing efforts to weave religious themes, particularly Christianity, into governmental activities.
On April 21, Trump will deliver a video message from the Oval Office at 6 p.m. EST, reading scripture as part of the event known as "America Reads The Bible." According to organizers, he will specifically read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, featuring the well-known verse 14, which speaks of humility and prayer: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
This event gains significance in light of Trump's recent tensions with Pope Leo regarding the Iran conflict, as well as controversy over his posting and subsequent removal of an AI-generated image portraying him as Jesus.
Notably, this verse had garnered attention during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot when Couy Griffin, founder of “Cowboys for Trump,” prayed publicly over the crowd. Moreover, shortly after Trump's election in 2016, evangelist Anne Graham Lotz indicated that his victory was an answer to the prayers aligned with this scripture.
Bunni Pounds, president of the organization Christians Engaged and an event organizer, emphasized the importance of having someone special read from Second Chronicles and specifically selected Trump for this task.
Historian and political scientist Margaret Susan Thompson pointed out that many Evangelical Christians view this scripture as a basis for invoking divine favor upon the nation. While previous presidents, such as Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, have incorporated their religious beliefs into their leadership without making them mandatory for the populace, she voiced concerns about the current trend of intertwining faith with national identity.
The Bible reading will be attended by several administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Just recently, Trump has faced scrutiny over two religious-related incidents, one being a dispute with Pope Leo, who criticized the administration's stance on the Iran war. Trump retorted that he disapproves of a pope advocating for the acceptability of nuclear weapons, expressing, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” to which the pontiff responded, stating he has “no fear of the Trump administration.”
Furthermore, Trump found himself defending an AI-generated depiction of himself as Jesus, which upset some supporters. He attempted to clarify his intent by stating, “I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross,” asserting that the image was meant to convey his role in healing.
Since his return to office last year, the Trump administration has increasingly blurred the line between church and state. The White House has encouraged Americans to dedicate an hour a week to prayer, shared biblical verses and Christian-themed imagery across official social media platforms, and organized prayer services within federal agencies.
Earlier in the year, Hegseth, known for advocating a religious influence within military affairs, invited a pastor with controversial beliefs, Douglas Wilson, to lead a prayer service at the Pentagon. Wilson has made headlines for his extreme views, including calls to revoke women's voting rights and criminalize homosexuality. During a recent Pentagon briefing on the Iran war, Hegseth likened reporters to Pharisees, whom he described as the “self-appointed elites of their time” critical of Jesus.