Trump to Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 in Bible Marathon Event

Donald Trump’s recorded reading of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is set to air as part of an 84-hour Bible marathon at the Museum of the Bible, turning a familiar Old Testament passage into a pointed piece of political theater for a national evangelical audience. The verse, which organizers describe as a scripture about repentance, has long been used by Christian supporters as a call for the country to humble itself, pray, seek God, and turn from sin so that God will heal the land.

The reading is part of America Reads the Bible, a weeklong public presentation running April 18-25, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Organizers said nearly 500 readers would cycle through scripture from Genesis to Revelation over eight days, with 12 hours of reading each day. More than 450 speakers were scheduled, including six Cabinet members, six governors and 20 federal lawmakers, underscoring how closely the event blends religious language with the machinery of power.

Bunni Pounds, the founder of Christians Engaged and one of the event’s organizers, framed Trump’s participation as unusually significant. “I believe it’s historic to have a sitting president read a lengthy section of Scripture with no commentary around it,” Pounds said, adding that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is relevant because it is about repentance. That framing matters politically as much as spiritually: the passage gives evangelical allies a biblical vocabulary for national renewal while placing Trump inside a narrative of divine favor rather than partisan spectacle alone.

The White House tied the initiative to the broader sweep of American history, saying the Bible played an “indelible” role in shaping the nation’s identity and linking the event to figures such as John Winthrop and Abraham Lincoln. That message reaches beyond the Museum of the Bible. It presents Trump not simply as a participant in a faith event, but as a political figure wrapped in the language of providence, national destiny and restoration ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

The appearance also comes amid fresh scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with Christians after he posted and deleted an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus, drawing backlash from some Christian conservatives. He also clashed publicly with Pope Leo XIV. Against that backdrop, the Bible reading offers Trump a way to reaffirm his bond with evangelical supporters while projecting a broader message to a national audience: that faith language remains central to his political brand.

The event follows a long public Bible-reading tradition on Capitol Hill. The U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon, founded in 1990 by Dr. John Hash and Dr. Corinthia Boone, has for decades drawn believers to the Capitol for continuous scripture reading. In 2025, its 35th year featured readings in Dutch, Korean and Mandarin, showing how these events have become enduring displays of religious identity in the nation’s political heart.