In a video promoting the new book “God Bless the USA,” former President Trump held up the book, which flaunts the American flag on its cover, and declared, “Make America Pray Again.”
Trump has long championed unusual merchandise, with T-shirts bearing his image flying off virtual shelves, generating $7 million in just over a day, according to his campaign. The new Bible, which retails for $59.99, brings together the Bible, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as the lyrics of country singer Lee Greenwood's famous song “God Bless the United States of America.” Which is often played at Trump rallies and events.
In the promotional video, Trump said the Bible uses the King James Version of the text. Its launch comes during Holy Week, a fact Trump pointed out in a post on Truth Social: “Happy Holy Week! Let's make America pray again. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible.
The book's website states that the product is “not political and has no connection to any political campaign” and that any proceeds from the Bible will not go to Trump's presidential campaign. She also points out that the book is “the only Bible endorsed by President Trump.”
It didn't take long for Trump's promotion of the book to spark satirical and scathing posts on social media.
I said to them: Whoever has gold, let him remove it. “They gave it to me, I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf — which you can have for the low, low price of five easy installments of $19.99,” Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, tweeted in response to Trump's video.
Trump faces nearly half a billion dollars in bonds related to a civil fraud case. A New York judge on Monday agreed to defer collection of more than $450 million he owes if he pays $175 million in bonds within 10 days.
Last month, Trump promoted $399 gold “Never Surrender High-Tops” sneakers. He has previously sold other books, before and after his presidency.
In the video posted by Truth Social, Trump said: “All Americans need a Bible in their homes, and I have a lot of them.” He added that it was his “favorite book,” although in interviews he seemed unclear about some of its contents. He drew criticism, or at least raised some eyebrows, when during a speech at Liberty University he referred to the 2 Corinthians as “2 Corinthians” rather than the common “2 Corinthians.”
In one of the most memorable images from his administration, in 2020, Trump held aloft a Bible for a photo op outside St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, where several presidents have attended services. The photo shoot came moments after officers cleared racial justice protesters from the park in front of the church.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
