Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the Pray Vote Stand Summit, organized by the Family Research Council in Washington, September 15, 2023.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Donald Trump on Tuesday started promoting a line of pricey Bibles in partnership with country music star Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the U.S.A.” is omnipresent at the former president’s political rallies.
“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many,” Trump said in a video on Truth Social announcing the business deal.
“It’s my favorite book. It’s a lot of people’s favorite book,” he said.
“Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country, and I truly believe that we need to bring them back,” he added. “It’s one of the biggest problems we have. That’s why our country’s going haywire — we’ve lost religion in our country.”
The ubiquitous Christian holy text is the world’s bestselling book, and churches are often more than happy to hand them out for free. The Bible is also free to read on a wide range of websites and apps, not to mention hotel rooms and other places.
The “God Bless the U.S.A. Bible” costs $59.99, not including shipping and other fees.
For that money, buyers get a range of extra features not typically included in run-of-the-mill Bibles.
The Trump-Greenwood Bible, a King James translation, includes a copy of a “handwritten chorus” to the eponymous Greenwood hit, according to the website.
It also includes the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, the site says.
It’s the “only Bible” endorsed by either Trump or Greenwood, the site proclaims. It adds, it’s “the ONLY Bible inspired by America’s most recognized patriotic anthem, God Bless The USA.”
The text is also printed in a large font that highlights the words of Jesus in red, per the site.
It was not immediately clear how much money Trump and Greenwood stood to make off the promotion, which came during Holy Week, a sacred time for Christians.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has also promoted sneakers, perfume and digital trading cards while running to unseat Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, left, stands with singer Lee Greenwood during a rally at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4, 2019.
Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images
The partnership comes at an especially turbulent moment for Trump’s finances.
Trump has recently seen his net worth explode by billions of dollars, following a successful merger allowing his media company to publicly trade on the Nasdaq.
But he can’t cash in on his stake in that company for months. In the meantime, he has just days to put up $175 million for an appeal bond that will stop the state of New York from enforcing a $454 million civil fraud judgment against him.
Trump is also fighting other hefty civil judgments, including a federal jury verdict ordering him to pay $83.3 million for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused the former president of raping her years ago.
Trump’s political fundraising operation, meanwhile, is falling far behind the Biden campaign’s efforts. Trump said Monday that he “might” put his own money into his White House bid.
The website selling the Trump-backed Bibles specifies that none of its proceeds will go toward the Trump campaign.
The site says it “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”
“GodBlessTheUSABible.com is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates.”
Rather, it says it is licensed by CIC Ventures to use Trump’s name, likeness and image.
Trump’s 2023 financial disclosure shows he has made more than $5 million in speaking engagements through CIC Ventures.
