Trump to Recite from 2 Chronicles for National ‘America Reads the Bible’ Event

President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to participate in a weeklong national Bible reading marathon titled “America Reads the Bible,” delivering a recitation from the Book of 2Chronicles via a pre-recorded video from the Oval Office.

The President’s involvement is part of a broader initiative marking 250 years of the Bible’s influence in the United States. Bunni Pounds, the founder of the organization Christians Engaged and the event's organizer, noted that the passage—specifically 2Chronicles 7:11-22—was reserved specifically for Mr. Trump due to its perceived resonance with the nation’s spiritual history.

“We needed someone significant to read this chapter,” Ms. Pounds said in an interview. “This is a critical message for the body of Christ and the entire country.”

A Message of National Healing

The passage Mr. Trump is set to read includes 2Chronicles 7:14, a verse that has become a cornerstone of American civil religion and national prayer gatherings: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

The move comes as the Trump administration continues to weave religious rhetoric and values into the fabric of official governance. According to reports from CNN, several high-ranking cabinet officials are also slated to participate, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Housing Secretary Scott Turner.

Controversy and Political Momentum

Mr. Trump’s participation arrives amid heightened public scrutiny. Just last week, the President faced backlash following a public dispute with religious leaders over foreign policy regarding the conflict in Iran. Furthermore, he recently deleted a social media post featuring an artificial intelligence-generated image that depicted him with religious iconography—a move that drew both mockery and condemnation from critics.

Margaret Susan Thompson, a political observer at Syracuse University, noted that the use of such biblical passages is often viewed by the Evangelical base as a divine mandate. “For many of his supporters, this is a symbolic restoration of traditional values at the heart of the federal government,” she said.

The “America Reads the Bible” event is being hosted at the Museum of the Bible in Washington through April 25. Nearly 500 figures from across the political and cultural spectrum—including members of Congress, governors, and Hollywood personalities—will take turns reading the Bible in its entirety, from Genesis to Revelation.

The President’s reading is scheduled to air Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, positioned as the centerpiece of the week’s commemorations. []