Former President Donald Trump is now selling Bibles in his bid to return to the White House.
Trump, who became the probable Republican nominee earlier this month, posted a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging followers to purchase the “God Bless the USA Bible,” inspired by country artist Lee Greenwood’s patriotic tune. Trump performs the song at each of his rallies and has performed alongside Greenwood at events.
“Happy Holy Week! Let us make America pray again. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to acquire a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” Trump said, linking his fans to a website where the book is available for $59.99.
The initiative comes as Trump is facing a significant financial crisis due to growing legal fees as he fights four criminal indictments as well as a number of civil charges. A New York appeals court granted Trump a respite Monday, agreeing to postpone collection of the more than $454 million he owes as a result of a civil fraud verdict if he pays $175 million within 10 days. Trump had already paid a $92 million bond in connection with defamation lawsuits filed by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault.
“Every American needs a Bible in their house, and I have many. “It’s my favorite book,” Trump stated in a video broadcast to Truth Social. “I’m delighted to recommend and encourage you to purchase this Bible. “We must make America pray again.”
Calling themselves “the only Bible endorsed by President Trump!” The new venture’s website describes it as “easy to read” with “large print” and a “slim design” that “invites you to explore God’s Word anywhere, anytime.”
Aside from the King James Version translation, it contains copies of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus to the famous Greenwood song.
The Bible is just the latest commercial enterprise that Trump has undertaken while campaigning.
He introduced a new collection of Trump-branded sneakers, including the $399 gold “Never Surrender High-Tops,” at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia last month. The company that created the shoes, 45Footwear, also sells additional Trump-branded footwear, cologne, and perfume.
Trump has also dabbled in NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, and last year reported earning between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards depicting him in cartoon-like imagery such as an astronaut, cowboy, and superhero.
Donald Trump is facing four criminal indictments and a civil suit. You can keep track of all the cases here.
He has also published volumes with photographs from his time in government and letters written to him throughout the years.
According to the Bible website, the product “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”
“GodBlessTheUSABible.com is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC, or any of their respective principals or affiliates,” according to the statement.
Instead, the website states, “GodBlessTheUSABible.com uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”
CIC Ventures LLC, a firm that Trump claimed to own in his 2023 financial disclosure, has a similar deal with 45Footwear, which likewise claims to exploit Trump’s “name, likeness, and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”
A Trump representative and God Bless the USA Bible did not immediately reply to inquiries about how much Trump was compensated for the licensing agreement or how much he stands to profit from each book sale.
Trump is extremely popular among white evangelical Christians, who are among his most fervent fans, despite the fact that the thrice-married former reality TV star has a long history of behavior that frequently appears to contradict the teachings of Christ in the Gospels.
When Trump was campaigning in 2016, he aroused eyebrows by citing “Two Corinthians” at Liberty University rather than the traditional “Second Corinthians.”
When asked to reveal his favorite Bible verse in an interview with Bloomberg Politics in 2015, he declined.
“I’d rather not get into it. Because that is really personal to me,” he explained. “The Bible means a lot to me, but I don’t want to get into specifics.”
When Trump was president, law enforcement agents violently removed racial justice demonstrators from a park near the White House, allowing him to proceed to neighbor St. John’s Church and stand alone, raising a Bible. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington’s bishop criticized the scene at the time.
Before running for government, Trump notoriously sold everything from frozen steaks to vodka through a company called Trump University, which was eventually sued for fraud.