Former President Donald Trump was called out for encouraging his supporters to buy a "God Bless the USA Bible" ahead of Easter, even claiming it's his "favorite book."
In a video posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump encouraged his supporters to purchase the Bible, priced at $59.99, as a way to celebrate the Holy Week leading up to Easter. Trump suggested the initiative aims to promote prayer and religious reflection, emphasizing the importance of having a Bible in every American home.
Trump's announcement also conveyed that the initiative was inspired by the patriotic anthem penned by country singer Lee Greenwood, with whom Trump said he'd partnered.
Facing financial strain due to mounting legal expenses stemming from criminal indictments and civil charges, Trump sees the Bible venture as a means to bolster his finances. A recent reprieve from a New York appeals court allowed him to delay payment of a substantial civil judgment in exchange for posting a $175 million bond.
The "God Bless the USA Bible," touted as "the only Bible endorsed by President Trump," features large print and includes additional patriotic documents such as the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. It also incorporates handwritten lyrics from Greenwood's renowned song.
You can watch Trump's announcement below.
Trump said, in part:
"I want a lot of people to have it [the Bible and its accompanying documents]. You have to have it for your heart, for your soul. Many of you have never read them and don't know the liberties and rights you have as Americans and how you are being threatened to lose those rights."
"It's happening all the time. It's an very sad thing that's going on in our country but we're going to get it turned around. Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country and I truly believe that we have to bring them back and we have to bring them back fast."
"I think it's one of the biggest problems we have. That's why our country's going haywire and we've lost religion in our country. All Americans need a Bible in their home and I have many."
"It's my favorite book."
Trump went on to say no one answers "to bureaucrats in Washington," only "God in heaven." He asserted that "Christians are under siege" and "must protect content that is pro-God."
He added a characteristic attack against his opponents and detractors, appealing to his evangelical base:
"We love God and we have to protect anything that is pro-God. We must defend God in the public square and not allow the media or the left-wing groups to silence, censor, or discriminate against us."
"We have to bring Christianity back into our lives and back into what will be again a great nation. Our Founding Fathers did a tremendous thing when they built America on Judeo-Christian values and that foundation is under attack perhaps as never before."
However, no one was buying Trump's attempts at piety—and he was harshly mocked.
Despite Trump's involvement, the Bible's website emphasizes that the product is not politically affiliated and maintains independence from Trump-related entities such as The Trump Organization and CIC Ventures LLC. The latter, a company listed in Trump's financial disclosures, oversees the licensing agreements for products like the Bible and 45Footwear.
Details regarding the financial arrangements between Trump and the Bible's producers remain undisclosed, leaving questions unanswered about the extent of Trump's earnings from the venture. Both Trump's representatives and the God Bless the USA Bible declined to provide further information on the matter.
Approximately 80% of white evangelicals threw their support behind Trump during the 2016 general election, and a comparable percentage did so again in 2020, despite his loss to President Joe Biden.
Many justified their votes by framing the decision as a selection between Trump, who promised to pursue objectives such as limiting abortion access, and a Democratic candidate who did not share these priorities.
