With Donald Trump set to take part in a Bible-reading event, an older interview in which he was pressed on his ‘favored’ verses has started circulating again.
Over the past few months, Trump has increasingly spoken publicly about Christianity, faith, and his views on Jesus. Now, the White House says he is expected to go a step further by reading Scripture during a scheduled appearance.
“On April 21, President Trump is scheduled to read Scripture via video message from the Oval Office during the 6 p.m. EST hour.”
The initiative is part of an event titled America Reads the Bible, which organizers describe as a moment of national reflection and religious renewal.
‘honor Holy Scripture, renew our faith, usher in a historic resurgence of religion on American shores, and rededicate the United States as one Nation under God.’
The timing, however, lands amid continued controversy for Trump. He has recently faced criticism from Pope Leo, after the pontiff condemned the US’s war on Iran—comments that prompted a sharp response from Trump.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
Trump’s involvement in the Bible-reading event has also renewed attention on a decade-old interview with Bloomsburg Politics, where he was asked to identify his most ‘favored’ Bible passages.
In the clip, he refers to the Bible as something that “means a lot to me,” but appears hesitant when asked to name specific verses. He ultimately declines to give an answer, saying he “wouldn’t want to get into it because to me that’s very personal,” adding that he didn’t want “to get into specifics.”
When the hosts followed up by asking whether he identified more with the Old Testament or the New Testament, his reply was noncommittal.
“Uh, probably equal. I think it’s just an incredible….the whole Bible is an incredible…”
He later described the Bible as his ‘second favorite book of all time’.
More recently, Trump drew backlash after sharing two religious-themed images that angered critics. One, posted on a Sunday to his Truth Social account, depicted him in a robe appearing to ‘heal’ a man, uploaded shortly after he criticized Pope Leo XIV.
A second image followed, showing Jesus with an arm around his shoulders. Trump shared it alongside a pointed caption.
“The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!! President DJT.”