Trump to Read Scripture from Oval Office at ‘America Reads the Bible’ Event Sunday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump will read from 2 Chronicles 7 during the nationwide “America Reads the Bible” event from the Oval Office this week. Organizers say the passage was intentionally reserved for Trump because of its long-standing importance in American prayer and national reflection. The weeklong event will feature nearly 500 participants reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Trump Bible Reading Event Quick Looks
- Trump will read 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 from the Oval Office
- The reading is part of “America Reads the Bible”
- The event celebrates 250 years of the Bible in America
- Nearly 500 participants will read Scripture nationwide
- Organizers say Trump’s passage was specially reserved for him
- Verse 14 of 2 Chronicles is central to the event’s message
- The event runs from April 19 through April 25
- The Museum of the Bible is partnering on the project
Deep Look
Trump to Read Scripture From the Oval Office
President Donald Trump is set to read a passage from the Bible directly from the Oval Office this week as part of the nationwide “America Reads the Bible” event, a major faith-based initiative marking 250 years of the Bible in American life.
Trump will read 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, a passage organizers say carries deep spiritual and national significance.
The reading will take place during a prime evening slot on Tuesday and is being presented as a special guest appearance during the weeklong public reading of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
The event runs from April 19 through April 25 and will feature nearly 500 Americans reading the entire Bible aloud.
Organizers say Trump’s role was planned carefully and that the specific passage was intentionally saved for him.
Why 2 Chronicles 7 Was Chosen
According to Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, the passage from 2 Chronicles was not assigned randomly.
“We needed somebody special to read Second Chronicles chapter seven,” Pounds said.
She explained that while planning the event, she and her team felt strongly that this specific section carried special importance for the Christian community and for the country as a whole.
“As my director and I were praying over different sections of scripture, it came to us that this is such a critical passage for the body of Christ,” she said.
The focus is especially on verse 14, one of the most widely quoted passages during moments of national prayer in the United States.
The Meaning Behind Verse 14
“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.”
Pounds said the verse has been part of American prayer life for decades, especially during National Day of Prayer observances and other major national moments.
“It comes at a time where the Israelites were experiencing hardship and God spoke and said, ‘If my people that are called by my name would humble themselves and pray,’” Pounds said.
“We’ve prayed this scripture for at least the last 50 years of American history on National Day of Prayer and other moments in this country.”
Because of that history, organizers believed the President of the United States should be the one to read it.
“And so we instantly said — who needs to read that? The President of the United States,” she added.
“We set it aside for him and have been praying for that for the last year.”
Organizers Say Faith Message Matters
Pounds said Trump’s participation sends a broader signal about the role of faith in American public life.
“I think he’s sending a message that faith matters in this country, and that it’s important not only personally, but for our nation overall,” she said.
She also said the selected Scripture reflects the challenges facing the country today.
“We’re making a statement during this week as America reads the Bible, that there is so much in the Bible that we can gain wisdom and discernment from, there is so much that can heal our families, that can rescue us from depression and anxiety and can heal our inner cities and heal our land… I believe the president’s saying that by reading this scripture specifically,” Pounds said.
The White House echoed that message in a presidential statement commemorating the event, describing the Bible as “indelibly woven into our national identity” and encouraging Americans to “rediscover” its role in shaping the nation.
Museum of the Bible Partnership
The event is being held in partnership with the Museum of the Bible and will include a broad mix of participants from across the country.
According to organizers, all readers will use the King James Version Easy Read edition, which has been licensed for both the livestream and a later audiobook release.
Participants include actors like Patricia Heaton and Candace Cameron Bure, along with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The event also includes pastors, elected officials, single parents, and small business owners, which organizers say reflects a wide cross-section of American life.
Worship music will accompany each hour of readings, with multiple ministries and Christian organizations supporting the project.
Trump’s Oval Office Reading Draws Attention
Pounds said viewers watching Trump’s reading will notice the seriousness of the moment.
“They’re going to see how passionate he is about it, how deliberate he was,” she said.
“It really struck me to see the leader of the free world reading scripture from the Oval Office.”
She also said the moment reflects personal conviction rather than symbolism alone.
“There’s a humility on him… and I don’t believe that he would have read it if he didn’t believe it,” she added.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment, but Trump is also expected to speak Monday at the Museum of the Bible in support of religious liberty in education.
As the event begins Sunday morning, organizers hope it becomes more than a ceremony and instead serves as a national spiritual reflection during a critical moment in American life.
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