Donald Trump is set to read scripture from the Oval Office this Tuesday as part of a major national Bible-reading event, just days after he faced a wave of backlash from conservative Christians over a string of social media posts many called blasphemous.
The scripture reading is part of “America Reads the Bible,” a weeklong initiative organized by Christians Engaged, a nonprofit group. According to a White House press statement reported by PR Newswire, Trump will deliver the reading via video message from the Oval Office on April 21 at 6 p.m. EST, followed by Dr. Ben and Candy Carson. He is scheduled to read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, a passage about national repentance and healing, with nearly 500 faith leaders and public figures participating in the broader event.
The timing is striking. Just last week, Trump used vulgar language on Easter Sunday, shared what appeared to be an AI-generated image of himself in the likeness of Jesus Christ, and publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV over the Pope’s criticism of the administration’s war with Iran. The backlash from his own religious base was swift and unusually pointed. Christian songwriter Sean Feucht called the Jesus meme unacceptable, writing on X that “there’s no context where this is acceptable.” Trump later told reporters he believed the image depicted him as a doctor, and the post was removed. This came on the heels of Trump’s controversial post about AI Jesus that sparked end times fears among some online.
A fractured relationship with the evangelical base
The broader context matters here. A Christian Science Monitor analysis found that Trump’s approval among white evangelical voters had dropped from 78% in January 2025 to 69% by January 2026, according to Pew Research Center data collected before the latest controversies. Jim Guth, a religion scholar at Furman University in South Carolina, told the Monitor that Trump is “beginning to wear” on more moderate members of the evangelical community.
The faith tension extends beyond social media. Anti-abortion activists within Trump’s own coalition are growing increasingly frustrated with the administration’s lack of action on restricting abortion medication through the mail. Kristi Hamrick of Students for Life of America told the Monitor that she is “way more frustrated” by the stagnation on chemical abortion pill policy than by any meme.
Despite the recent friction, the “America Reads the Bible” event has drawn significant participation from Trump administration officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and several other cabinet members are among those scheduled to read scripture at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., where the public readings run from April 19 to 25. The event is livestreamed on Great American Pure Flix and is designed to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged and the organizer behind the event, praised Trump’s participation. “We are thankful that President Trump has agreed to read one of the most important Scripture passages for the American church,” Pounds said in a statement to PR Newswire, calling it a moment of hope “for national healing and renewal.”
What’s at stake ahead of the midterms
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, told the Christian Science Monitor that Trump’s recent social media posts were “very troubling to many evangelical Bible-believing Christians.” But he also said the administration’s war with Iran could end up being a net positive with evangelicals “if it ends the right way.” The balancing act reflects a broader challenge: Trump’s Republican Party is facing real risks in November’s midterm elections, and social conservatives have historically been the ground game that drives GOP voter turnout.
For now, Trump is leaning into faith-adjacent public moves. But as one religion polling expert at Washington University in St. Louis noted, memes have a short shelf life in polling. What tends to stick longer, he said, is gas prices. That may be the more durable test of Trump’s standing with his religious base, not whether he reads scripture on Tuesday. Trump recently made headlines for his comments on Epstein survivor hearings, adding to a busy and controversial stretch for the White House.
