Trump Joins Bible Reading Marathon: What Does This Mean for His Christian Supporters?

Translation resultConservative Christian Recitation Draws Masses of Trump Loyalists

President Donald Trump, who sparked controversy after posting an image that likened him to Jesus Christ, will participate in a weeklong Bible-reading marathon.

The New York Times reported on the 17th (local time) that \”America Reads the Bible,\” a seven-day event sponsored by the conservative Christian group Christian Engaged, will take place in Washington, D.C., from the 19th through the 25th.

Organizers said Trump will take part and that he recorded his segment in the Oval Office on the 14th. He read passages from 2 Chronicles 7 that include the lines, \”If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.\”

For decades, Americans have read this passage as carrying political weight; churches routinely use it in praise, prayers, and sermons. The NYT noted that many of Trump’s Christian backers interpret the verse as a call for national repentance followed by divine blessing. During the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the founder of the pro-Trump group Cowboys for Trump recited the passage over a loudspeaker, and the crowd responded by shouting, \”Let’s fight for Trump!\”

The reading schedule begins with Genesis 1 on the morning of the 19th and concludes with the final chapter of Revelation on the evening of the 25th. Trump’s segment is scheduled to air between 6 and 7 p.m. Eastern on the 21st.

Most participants will read live from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., but Trump and several other senior figures prerecorded their portions. The lineup includes Marco Rubio as Secretary of State; Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense; Sean Duffy as Secretary of Transportation; and Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. The NYT said the roughly 500 readers, including current administration officials, represent some of Trump’s staunchest Christian supporters.

Trump’s decision to take part in the Bible readings has drawn attention because it comes amid backlash from some Christian groups over his own actions. On the 12th he posted an image of himself in white robes and a red cloak, placing his hand on a sick person’s forehead. Critics accused him of likening himself to Jesus, and facing mounting accusations of blasphemy, he deleted the post about 12 hours later.

Separately, Trump has been trading barbs with U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV, who has criticized Trump over an Iran war. Trump blasted the pope as \”weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy.\” The pope, who has consistently criticized Trump since the conflict began, publicly targeted Trump on the 16th (local time) while visiting four African countries, telling a crowd in the northwestern Cameroonian city of Batender that \”a handful of tyrants are ravaging the world.\”