U.S. President Donald Trump is set to participate in a public Scripture reading this week as his administration continues to bring religious expression—particularly Christianity—into official government activities.
According to event organizers, Trump will deliver a video message from the Oval Office at 6 p.m. EST on April 21 as part of “America Reads the Bible,” a weeklong event marking 250 years of the Bible’s presence in the United States. He is expected to read from the book of 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, including the widely cited verse 14, which calls for humility, prayer, and repentance as a path to national healing.
Trump’s participation comes amid recent religious controversies, including a public disagreement with Pope Leo over the conflict involving Iran. The president criticized the pontiff’s stance, while the pope responded that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration.
The president also faced backlash after posting, and later deleting, an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. Trump later said the image was intended to portray him as a healer, likening it to a doctor “making people better.”
The Scripture passage Trump is expected to read has previously surfaced in political and religious contexts.
It was referenced during the January 6 United States Capitol riot and has long been embraced by evangelical Christians as a call for divine intervention in national affairs. Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz once cited the verse following Trump’s 2016 election victory as a sign of answered prayers.
Bunni Pounds, president of Christians Engaged and one of the event organizers, said the passage was deliberately reserved for Trump, describing him as a “special” participant.
Several senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, are also expected to take part.
Scholars say the growing use of religious language in governance raises concerns.
Margaret Susan Thompson of Syracuse University noted that while past presidents like Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush were guided by personal faith, they did not present religion as a national mandate.
“The problem is when it is prescribed for the entire nation as normative or mandatory,” Thompson said.
Since returning to office, Trump’s administration has increasingly incorporated Christian elements into public affairs. The White House has encouraged Americans to pray weekly, shared Bible verses on official platforms, and hosted prayer services across federal agencies.
At the Pentagon, Hegseth has drawn attention for promoting religious messaging, including inviting controversial pastor Douglas Wilson to lead a prayer service. Wilson has been criticized for views opposing women’s voting rights and supporting criminalization of homosexuality.
Critics argue that the administration’s approach risks blurring the long-standing separation between church and state, while supporters see it as a reflection of America’s religious heritage.
The upcoming Bible reading is expected to further fuel debate over the role of faith in U.S. governance.
Tags:
Donald Trump, America Reads the Bible, Oval Office, Christianity in politics, U.S. politics, religion and government, church and state, 2 Chronicles 7:14, evangelical Christians, White House, Pope Leo, Iran conflict, AI-generated image controversy, January 6 Capitol riot
