Donald Trump sparks fresh religious row with Bible-reading stunt

WorldPolitics
22 Apr 2026 • 2:54 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Donald Trump sparks fresh religious row with Bible-reading stunt

  • Donald Trump participated in a Bible-reading marathon, reciting an Old Testament passage in a pre-recorded video from the Oval Office.
  • This event followed his posting of an AI-generated image appearing to depict him as Jesus, which he later stated he believed showed him as a doctor.
  • The scripture reading garnered varied responses, with critics dismissing it as a 'political stunt' and supporters commending him for affirming American national identity.
  • His administration has been fostering a religious resurgence within the federal bureaucracy, including the creation of faith-based offices and policies encouraging religious expression among federal employees.
  • Trump has also publicly clashed with Pope Leo regarding the pontiff's strong opposition to the Iran war, with the Pope asserting he will not be silenced.

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