Trump Reads Bible Passage from Oval Office for America Reads the Bible Event

President Donald Trump read a Bible passage from the Oval Office on April 21, 2026, as part of a weeklong event called America Reads the Bible.

Trump read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, a passage that includes the verse: "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 event was livestreamed by Great American Media, a Texas-based company that produces family and faith content. Christians Engaged, a ministry connected to the Family Policy Alliance Foundation, organized the marathon reading.

Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged, told Fox News Digital that the event was meant to show "there is so much in the Bible that we can gain wisdom and discernment from."

Other Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were expected to participate in the event.

The appearance came days after Trump publicly clashed with Pope Leo XIV. The pope had called Trump's threats against Iran "truly unacceptable." Trump responded on social media, calling the first American-born pontiff "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy."

Trump also faced criticism from some Christian supporters after posting an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus. He later said he thought the image showed him as a doctor.

Despite the controversies, evangelical Christians remain a core voting bloc for Trump. He established a Religious Liberty Commission last year, which is examining issues including voluntary prayer in public schools and First Amendment rights for pastors.

A recent Pew poll found that more than eight in 10 American Catholics view Pope Leo XIV favorably, putting Republican lawmakers in a difficult position ahead of the 2026 midterms.