Key Takeaways
- The “America Reads the Bible” marathon, organized by the nonprofit Christians Engaged, is being livestreamed from the Museum of the Bible and other sites as part of the nation’s 250‑year observance.
- Participants are overwhelmingly Republican politicians, evangelical leaders, and other Trump supporters, prompting critics to label the event a Christian‑nationalist, MAGA‑aligned project.
- Former President Donald Trump will read 2 Chronicles 7:14 from the Oval Office, a verse frequently invoked at conservative gatherings to link national repentance with divine blessing.
- Critics—including historians Jemar Tisby and Brian Kaylor—argue the selective, partisan guest list undermines any claim of unity and reflects an effort to recast America’s founding as essentially Christian.
- The Bible‑reading marathon precedes a larger “National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving” on the National Mall, tying together Trump’s “America Prays” initiative and the America 250 celebrations.
The America Reads the Bible event kicked off this week as a continuous, live‑streamed reading of the entire Protestant Bible, with each participant reciting a passage aloud. Hosted primarily from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., the marathon is framed by organizers as a call for the nation to “return to the spiritual foundation that has shaped our country” and coincides with the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. Former President Donald Trump is slated to appear on Tuesday evening, delivering a reading from the seventh chapter of 2 Chronicles, a passage that stresses national repentance: “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.”
The event’s organizer, Christians Engaged, describes its mission as discipling Americans on a biblical worldview and encouraging prayer, voting, and civic involvement. Trump’s participation follows a pattern of the former president aligning his public persona with Christian symbolism—most recently, a controversial meme depicting him in a Jesus‑like pose that he later removed after backlash from some evangelical supporters.
A glance at the participant list reveals a pronounced partisan tilt. Alongside Trump, readers include high‑profile Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and numerous GOP members of Congress. Evangelical leaders frequently associated with Trump’s base—Franklin Graham, pastor Jack Graham, and Paula White‑Cain, who heads the White House Faith Office—are also scheduled to read. While organizers say they extended invitations to Democratic lawmakers and progressive denominational heads, those invitations were reportedly declined or went unanswered.
Critics argue that the skewed roster defeats any pretense of a unifying, nationwide exercise. Brian Kaylor, author of The Bible According to Christian Nationalists and editor‑in‑chief of the progressive faith‑politics outlet Word & Way, called the effort “very much a right‑wing MAGA, Christian nationalist effort.” He contended that a genuinely unifying project would have pursued ideological and political diversity, inviting voices across the spectrum. Historian Jemar Tisby echoed this sentiment on Facebook, warning that quoting Scripture while endorsing policies of violence, war, and exclusion betrays the text’s moral core.
The verse Trump will read—2 Chronicles 7:14—has long been a staple at conservative rallies, including the 2024 Republican National Convention and annual National Day of Prayer observances. Its promise of divine forgiveness upon national repentance has been used to frame political struggles as spiritual battles, reinforcing a narrative that America’s fortunes hinge on collective moral renewal. Supporters such as Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged, maintain that Scripture must precede action, asserting that “faith without works is dead” and that the reading is a necessary first step toward revitalizing the nation’s spiritual life.
The Bible‑reading marathon is positioned as a prelude to a larger gathering on May 17: a “National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving” on the National Mall. This event caps the “America Prays” initiative Trump announced last year, which seeks to mobilize nationwide prayer for the country and to “rededicate ourselves to one nation under God.” Many of the groups and individuals involved in America Prays—including the CatholicVote organization that endorsed Trump in 2024—are also participating in the current Bible read‑through, reinforcing the thematic linkage between scriptural reflection, patriotic observance, and the impending semiquincentennial celebrations.
While the event showcases a fervent blend of faith and patriotism, it also highlights the ongoing debate over how religion should intersect with American public life. Supporters view the marathon as a wholesome call to moral reflection, whereas detractors see it as a strategic effort to cement a Christian‑nationalist vision of the United States—one that privileges a particular ideological interpretation of the nation’s heritage and sidelines alternative perspectives. As the readings continue throughout the week, the tension between inclusive civic reverence and partisan religious signaling will likely remain a focal point of public discourse.