It is undeniable that politicians pander to their audiences. Hence, it should come as no surprise that the commonalities and the demographics of religion may be an appealing target for passionate voters. Leaping upon this opportunity to demonstrate his piety, presidential candidate Donald Trump has begun promoting copies of the Bible. This specific version, aptly named the God Bless the USA (GBUSA) Bible, is a King James translation that is used by many denominations of the Christian faith. The GBUSA Bible includes text from significant American documents such as The U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, The Pledge of Allegiance, and a snippet of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA” chorus.
According to the printer of the GBUSA Bible, the proceeds are not going to the Trump campaign, and the organization is apolitical. Trump himself is not renown for his religious participation and this overtly promotional maneuver has drawn skepticism from some Christians. David Pimentel ’25, a devout Catholic, told the Register Forum, “As long as he hasn’t changed the verses in a way that would adulterate the faith, I see no issue with his spreading the good word.”
A similar cautious sentiment seems to be shared across denominational lines, where the Scripture acts as the most powerful unifier of the many branches of Christianity. Nahom Hailemelekot ’25, an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, stressed his concerns to the Register Forum: “I’d take issue with him manipulating the faith in a way that an expression of Christianity would be treated as an invocation of his political image.” As the presidential hopeful has made no mention of an impending theocracy, it seems that sinners can sleep safely, knowing their day of judgment won’t come from an orange tanned messiah.
Outside of the Christian demographic, some people have taken issue with this mixture of faith and politics. Many seem especially concerned when the expression of a faith may be felt on a policy level. While the First Amendment prohibits an institutional union of church and state, there has never been a legitimate segregation of faith’s influence in U.S. politics. However secular we may wish to be, the Founding Fathers built this nation upon Christian, enlightenment, and scientific principles. Our currency, Declaration of Independence, and Pledge of Allegiance all make references to the Christian God of our Founding Fathers. For these reasons, Trump’s actions may serve as a reminder of just how integral the Bible is to our American identity. Regardless of the text’s religious significance, there are many lessons and stories within the book which explain the character of western society and its laws.
While all the elements present within the GBUSA Bible can be found for free online, the endorsed Bible is currently selling at about $60. Perhaps by reading this spin on the Bible, individuals can begin to understand the significance of Christian influence, and maybe even experience some co-optive self improvement.
