President & Cabinet Members Set to Read 2 Chronicles 7 During National Scripture Marathon
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump has released a powerful Presidential Message honoring 250 years of the Bible’s influence on the United States and will personally participate in the landmark America Reads the Bible initiative by reading Scripture from the Oval Office.
The White House statement, released Friday, celebrates the weeklong public reading of the entire Bible — from Genesis to Revelation — by nearly 500 leaders from faith, government, business, and entertainment. The event, organized by Christians Engaged and patterned after Ezra’s public reading of Scripture in the Old Testament, marks America’s 250th anniversary under the theme “One Week. One Nation. One Book.”
“In every generation, through every trial and triumph, God’s Word has guided our people and our country to incredible new heights,” President Trump stated in the message.
He traced the Bible’s imprint on American life from Christopher Columbus and the Jamestown settlement through John Winthrop’s “city upon a hill” sermon, the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, and the writings of John Adams, who called the Bible “the most profound Philosophy, the most perfect Morality, and the most refined Policy, that ever was conceived upon Earth.”
Trump also highlighted landmark moments, including George Washington’s inaugural oath on the Bible, Abraham Lincoln’s Scripture-filled Second Inaugural Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer, and Ronald Reagan’s proclamation of 1983 as the Year of the Bible.
The America Reads the Bible initiative officially launches with an Opening Celebration tonight, Saturday, April 18, at 7 p.m. EST at National Community Church / Capital Turnaround in Washington, D.C. Continuous public readings begin Sunday, April 19, and run daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST through Saturday, April 25, at the Museum of the Bible’s World Stage Theater on the National Mall.
President Trump is scheduled to read Scripture live via video message from the Oval Office on Tuesday, April 21, at 6 p.m. EST. He will proclaim 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, which includes God’s powerful promise to Solomon:
“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 our land.” (KJVER)
Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged and the visionary behind America Reads the Bible, expressed deep gratitude for the President’s involvement.
“We are thankful that President Trump has agreed to read one of the most important Scripture passages for the American church, offering God’s promise that if we pray and repent as His people, He will forgive our sins and heal our land,” said Pounds. “What hope this moment gives us for national healing and renewal.”
President Trump will be joined by numerous members of his administration and more than 122 ministries are also participating in the historic gathering.
Great American Pure Flix will livestream the entire week of readings, inviting families, churches, schools, and communities nationwide to join in person, online, or in local gatherings.
President Trump concluded his message with a nationwide call: “Together, we will honor Holy Scripture, renew our faith, usher in a historic resurgence of religion on American shores, and rededicate the United States as one Nation under God.”
