Trump To Read Bible Passage During 'America Reads The Bible' Event

The week-long event will feature national leaders and everyday Americans reading the entire Bible aloud.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:07pm

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A serene, nostalgic painting of an American flag hanging from a government building, the warm light and deep shadows creating a contemplative, almost melancholic mood.The upcoming 'America Reads the Bible' event aims to rededicate the nation under God, reflecting the enduring influence of religious conservatives in American politics.Syracuse Today

President Donald Trump is scheduled to participate in a week-long 'America Reads the Bible' event, where he will read a passage from 2 Chronicles during the 6 p.m. EST hour on April 21. The event, organized by Christians Engaged, will feature national leaders and hundreds of Americans reading the Bible aloud from Genesis to Revelation to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

Why it matters

The Bible reading event is seen by many evangelical Christians as a way to honor scripture and rededicate the United States as 'one Nation under God.' The chosen passage from 2 Chronicles 7 has been viewed by some as justifying calls for God to bless the nation.

The details

The 'America Reads the Bible' event will take place from April 19-25 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. and will be livestreamed. President Trump is scheduled to read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 during the 6 p.m. EST hour on April 21. The event is being organized by Christians Engaged, a faith-based non-profit.

  • The 'America Reads the Bible' event will take place from April 19-25, 2026.
  • President Trump is scheduled to read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 on April 21, 2026 between 6-7 p.m. EST.

The players

President Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who is scheduled to participate in the 'America Reads the Bible' event.

Bunni Pounds

The founder and president of Christians Engaged, the organization that helped organize the 'America Reads the Bible' event.

Margaret Susan Thompson

A professor of history and political science at Syracuse University who commented on the significance of the 2 Chronicles 7 passage that President Trump will read.

Franklin Graham

The president of the Christian humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse, who will also be participating in the 'America Reads the Bible' event.

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What they’re saying

“I'm looking forward to being part of America Reads the Bible, a week-long event where the entire Bible will be read aloud in honor of our nation's 250th anniversary! I'll be reading Luke 10, including the parable of the Good Samaritan—a passage that inspired the name and mission of @SamaritansPurse.”

— Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse

“This week, I send my best wishes to every citizen gathered at the Museum of the Bible, on the National Mall, and all across our country participating in America Reads the Bible, a historic initiative in which nearly 500 Americans will take part in a public reading, over the course of one week, of the entire Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—to celebrate 250 years of the Bible in America. I applaud every citizen participating in the America Reads the Bible initiative. Together, we will 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.”

— President Donald Trump

“Founder and president of Christians Engaged, Bunni Pounds, who helped organize the event, told Fox News that they 'needed someone special to read Second Chronicles, chapter seven' and that they set aside the passage for Trump to read.”

— Bunni Pounds, Founder and President, Christians Engaged

“The verse has been seen by many Evangelical Christians as a 'justification of calling upon God to bless their nation'.”

— Margaret Susan Thompson, Professor of History and Political Science, Syracuse University

What’s next

The 'America Reads the Bible' event will continue through April 25, 2026, with hundreds of participants reading the entire Bible aloud over the course of the week.

The takeaway

This high-profile Bible reading event organized by evangelical Christians reflects the continued influence of religious conservatives in American politics, as they seek to promote a vision of the United States as a 'Christian nation' blessed by God. The choice of President Trump to read a passage seen as justifying divine favor for the nation underscores the event's political undertones.