‘Political stunt’: Critics slam Trump’s reading of a Bible passage one week after posting AI image of himself as Jesus
Donald Trump has participated in a Bible-reading marathon a week after posting an AI image of himself as Jesus, reciting a passage from the Old Testament in a pre-recorded video filmed in the Oval Office.
Critics slammed the scripture reading as a blatant “political stunt,” while supporters praised the Republican president for reminding Americans “who we are as a nation.”
It comes as the Trump administration is fueling a religious resurgence in the federal bureaucracy. Since the president returned to office, federal workers have been inundated with proselytizing emails and invitations to worship services. And senior officials have repeatedly invoked their Christian faith in policy discussions.
The president has also sparred with Pope Leo over the Catholic pontiff’s staunch opposition to the Iran war.
On Tuesday evening, the 79-year-old president read from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 — a section of scripture that has long been quoted by those who believe the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation.
“And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice,” Trump said during his roughly three-minute address.
“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,” the president, seated behind the Resolute Desk, continued.
The recitation is part of “America Reads the Bible,” a weeklong scripture-reading event featuring more than 500 participants, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Joni Ernst.
Organizers billed it as a “spiritual celebration of our nation’s founding ideals and a call to rediscover the truth that still anchors us today,” according to the America Reads the Bible website.
“I applaud every citizen participating in the America Reads the Bible initiative,” the president said last week. “Together, we will honor Holy Scripture, renew our faith, usher in a historic resurgence of religion on American shores and rededicate the United States as one Nation under God.”
Social media quickly erupted with a range of reactions, with a number of users expressing heartfelt appreciation.
“This is what leadership looks like,” one X user wrote. “A president who isn’t ashamed to read the Bible in public and remind us who we are as a nation.”
“May God Bless what Trump is doing,” another chimed in. “In contrast…Biden honored gays.”
Bunni Pounds, the founder of Christians Engaged, the group that organized the project, also offered up praise. “It’s a powerful statement that he decided to read that passage,” she told The Associated Press.
