Trump's Oval Office Bible reading is creating a stir. Why it's dividing

President Donald Trump is receiving mixed reactions for reading from the Bible during a nationwide broadcast a week after he criticized Pope Leo XIV and posted an AI-generated photo of him appearing like Jesus Christ.

On Tuesday, April 21, Trump read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, scripture from the Old Testament, during a pre-recorded broadcast for America Reads the Bible, a week-long Bible reading event held in tandem with the celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

The reading came after Trump posted an AI-generated photo of himself that appeared like Jesus to Truth Social on April 12. The president later removed the post, claiming the photo was him as a doctor. He then shared a new AI-generated photo of himself embraced by Jesus amid public comments from Pope Leo.

Like many of Trump's actions, the reading has created a divide, with some upset about the president reading from the Bible in the Oval Office, while others are encouraged to see Christianity coming from the White House.

Trump's Bible reading divides the internet

"Sure, Satan, read some scripture. True Christians are not fooled by you and pray that you will seek forgiveness, repent of your sins and do what Jesus said in His Word," investigative journalist Jamie Satterfield wrote in an X post on April 21.

Another X user wrote: "I hope Trump doesn't read the Pulp Fiction sermon." The post was made in reference to a prayer delivered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Pentagon worship service on April 15, which many believed closely mirrored the fictionalized Ezekiel 25:17 Samuel L. Jackson's character, Jules Winnfield, cited before killing a character in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction."

Others, however, are encouraged by the president's Bible reading.

"What a privilege it is to hear the Bible read aloud in the public square. Around the world, many Christians face persecution simply for sharing their faith openly," evangelical pastor Ché Ahn wrote in an X post on April 22. "Thank you, President Trump, for boldly reading Scripture. What a moment to witness."

In a blog post made ahead of the reading, Paul M. Neuberger, founder and CEO of Christian networking organization C-Suite for Christ, wrote that the Bible reading provides an opportunity for Christians to stand into the light, rather than in the shadows.

"This is not a political moment. It is a spiritual crossroads. A line has been drawn, not by a man, but by the Word of God. And every person, every leader, every believer will choose where they stand," Neuberger wrote. "Because the reality is simple and unchanging: A nation that honors God stands. A nation that rejects Him falls."

What does 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 say?

The full scripture Trump read was from King James Easy Read Bible by Whitaker House Publishers:

¹¹ Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

¹² And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

¹³ If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

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.

¹⁵ Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

¹⁶ For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

¹⁷ And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;

¹⁸ Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

¹⁹ But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

²⁰ Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

²¹ And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

²² And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].