Trump’s Tuesday appearance came amid a weeklong effort to have hundreds of people take turns reading the entire Bible aloud, with most readings held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington and Trump joining by video from the Oval Office. The event is part of an America 250-themed initiative that organizers say is aimed at encouraging Americans toward what it describes as a “return to the spiritual foundation” of the country.
Trump read from 2 Chronicles, a book in the Hebrew portion of the Bible, drawing specific attention to a verse that has become a frequent centerpiece at religious observances focused on national repentance. The verse, from the book’s seventh chapter, says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Bunni Pounds, the founder of Christians Engaged, helped organize the project and said she expected the selection to resonate. Pounds said, “It’s a powerful statement that he decided to read that passage,” describing Trump’s role in the marathon as a deliberate choice within the event’s broader message.
For decades, organizers of Bible-readings and prayer events have used the “If my people” passage as a theme for calls to pray and seek restoration, including in events tied to the National Day of Prayer. While the National Day of Prayer is officially nonsectarian, the verse has been a staple at gatherings where evangelicals and other Christians have played prominent roles.
The use of the passage in modern political messaging has also been shaped by past moments at rallies and in public religious displays, including the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. During the attack by a mob of Trump supporters, Couy Griffin, described by the Associated Press as the founder of Cowboys for Trump, evoked the same 2 Chronicles passage while praying to the crowd through a megaphone.
Critics say the verse’s modern use often relies on reading it beyond its original setting. Brian Kaylor, a Baptist pastor and the president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, said the verse has become a popular text among Christian nationalists. Kaylor said in the Associated Press report that the verse is “a popular verse among Christian nationalists and has been for quite some time,” and that its use has taken on a partisan tone.
Kaylor also argued that the passage is treated as if it directly applies to the United States, even though he said it is rooted in a different historical context. He said: “This verse is not about the United States,” calling it “a promise made to one particular person in one particular moment” and saying it “doesn’t really work to pull it out of context and apply it to whatever you want to.”
In the biblical setting, the Associated Press report describes the verse as part of a prayer during the reign of King Solomon in ancient Israel, connected to the dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem. In that account, Solomon asks for divine mercy if a future generation sins and suffers punishment through disaster, and the text then offers restoration in response to repentance.
Supporters of using the verse in contemporary American settings often link the passage to a view of the nation’s spiritual destiny and a need for repentance when the country falls short. The Associated Press report points to examples such as former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose oath of office in 1953 took place with his hand on a Bible opened to the 2 Chronicles passage, and Ronald Reagan, who quoted the verse in a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer.
Alongside Trump, other politicians and public figures are taking part in the Bible-reading marathon. The Associated Press report said Mike Huckabee, a Baptist pastor and U.S. ambassador to Israel, was reading from Genesis, a passage that states God will bless those who bless Abraham, which is also cited by many evangelicals as a biblical basis for supporting Israel. The marathon also includes David Barton, whose WallBuilders organization promotes belief in America as a Christian nation, and who is scheduled to read from a passage in which Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem.