Former President Donald Trump is set to read a passage from the Bible in the Oval Office, according to multiple reports citing White House sources. The planned reading comes amid heightened public attention on his recent interactions with religious leaders, including a widely reported disagreement with Pope Leo XIV over comments made during a private audience at the Vatican. The event, described as a personal reflection rather than an official government function, is expected to be recorded and shared through the White House’s official social media channels later this week.
The timing of the reading follows a period of intensified scrutiny over Trump’s use of artificial intelligence-generated imagery in political messaging. Earlier this month, a fabricated image depicting the Pope in a satirical context was circulated online and later removed from Trump’s Truth Social account after criticism from Catholic organizations and fact-checking groups. While the White House has not confirmed the exact verse to be read, advisors close to the former president indicated the selection may come from the Book of Psalms, a choice consistent with his past public references to scripture during campaign events and inaugurations.
Religious scholars and interfaith leaders have noted that presidential engagement with religious texts, particularly in official settings, carries symbolic weight beyond personal devotion. “When a former or current president chooses to read scripture in the Oval Office, it is often interpreted as a signal to faith-based communities about their values and priorities,” said Dr. Melissa Rogers, former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under President Obama. “Such acts are not constitutionally required, but they are politically and culturally significant, especially in a polarized environment.”
The planned reading coincides with the ongoing “America Reads the Bible” initiative, a week-long series of public readings hosted at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. The program, which began on April 22 and runs through April 28, features daily readings by public officials, faith leaders, and citizens from across the country. Although Trump is not listed among the scheduled participants in the museum’s official program, his Oval Office reading is being framed by supporters as a parallel expression of national engagement with scripture.
White House officials have emphasized that the event is being conducted in a private capacity and does not involve the use of federal resources for religious promotion. “This is a personal moment of reflection, not a government-endorsed religious ceremony,” said a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official added that no executive branch staff are required to participate or attend, and the recording will be handled by the former president’s personal media team.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the blending of personal religious expression with the symbolic authority of the Oval Office. “Even when framed as private, actions taken in that space carry institutional resonance,” said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. “We’ve seen how such gestures can be interpreted as endorsements, particularly when they follow public controversies involving religious figures.”
The Vatican has not issued an official response to Trump’s planned reading. Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in October 2023, has maintained a relatively restrained public posture toward U.S. Political figures since his papacy began. In a recent interview with Vatican Media, the Pope emphasized dialogue over confrontation, stating, “Our duty is to build bridges, not to amplify divisions, especially when they touch on matters of faith.”
Fact-checking organizations have previously reviewed claims about Trump’s religious practices and found inconsistencies in how often he references scripture outside of campaign contexts. A 2020 analysis by the Pew Research Center found that while 65% of white evangelical Protestants viewed Trump as supportive of their religious values, only 38% said he personally lived those values in his daily life—a gap noted by analysts as reflecting the symbolic rather than devotional nature of his religious appeals.
The Bible reading is expected to be released in video format on the former president’s official channels by Friday, April 26. No public livestream has been announced, and access to the recording will initially be limited to his verified social media accounts. Representatives for Trump did not respond to requests for comment on the specific passage selected or the theological context behind the choice.
As the nation continues to navigate complex intersections of faith, politics, and public symbolism, moments like this serve as focal points for broader conversations about the role of religion in American public life. Whether viewed as an act of personal faith or a strategic political gesture, the Oval Office reading underscores the enduring influence of scripture in shaping national discourse—even when its origins lie outside the pulpit.