Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Pray Vote Stand Summit organized by the Family Research Council on September 15, 2023 in Washington.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Donald Trump began promoting a series of expensive Bibles on Tuesday in collaboration with country star Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the USA” is ubiquitous 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 deal.
“It’s my favorite book. It’s a lot of people’s favorite book,” he said.
“Religion and Christianity are the biggest things this country is missing and I firmly believe we must bring them back,” he added. “It is one of the biggest problems we have. That’s why our country is in disarray – we have lost religion in our country.”
The ubiquitous Christian sacred text is the best-selling book in the world, and churches are often happy to distribute it for free. The Bible can also be read for free on a variety of websites and apps, not to mention hotel rooms and other locations.
The God Bless the USA Bible costs $59.99, excluding shipping and other fees.
For this money, buyers get a number of additional features that are usually not included in ordinary Bibles.
The Trump-Greenwood Bible, a King James translation, contains a copy of a “handwritten chorus” to the Greenwood hit of the same name, according to the website.
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This also includes the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, the website says.
It is the “only Bible” endorsed by either Trump or Greenwood, the website says. It goes on to say it is “the ONLY Bible inspired by America’s best-known patriotic anthem, God Bless The USA.”
The text is also printed in a large font that highlights Jesus’ words in red, according to the website.
It was not immediately clear how much money Trump and Greenwood stood to make from the promotion, which fell during Holy Week, a holy time for Christians.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has also promoted sneakers, perfume and digital trading cards while campaigning to unseat Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden.
Former US President Donald Trump (left) stands with singer Lee Greenwood during a rally at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on November 4, 2019.
Almond Ngan | Afp | Getty Images
The partnership comes at a particularly turbulent time for Trump’s finances.
Trump’s net worth recently exploded by billions of dollars following a successful merger that allowed his media company to trade publicly on the Nasdaq.
But he can’t redeem his shares in this company for months. Meanwhile, he has just days left to post $175 million in bail that will prevent New York state from enforcing a $454 million civil fraud judgment against him.
Trump is also fighting other major civil judgments, including a federal jury verdict that ordered him to pay $83.3 million for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused the former president years ago of plotting against her to have raped.
Trump’s political fundraising efforts, meanwhile, are lagging far behind the Biden campaign’s efforts. Trump said Monday that he “might” pour his own money into his bid for the White House.
The website selling the Trump-endorsed Bibles says no portion of the proceeds will go to the Trump campaign.
The website says it is “not political and has nothing to do with a 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 was licensed by CIC Ventures to use Trump’s name, likeness and likeness.
Trump’s 2023 financial disclosure shows he earned more than $5 million from speaking engagements through CIC Ventures.
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2024-03-27 17:19:23
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