Former President Donald Trump is capitalizing on religious sentiment, marketing commemorative Bibles to his followers, while President Joe Biden faces criticism from Republicans for allegedly disrespecting the Easter holiday. Despite being a lifelong practicing Catholic, Biden’s struggle to align his personal beliefs with his party’s stance on women’s rights has been publicly evident. On the other hand, Trump’s promises to “Make America Pray Again” and his use of terms like “persecution” in his public grievances hint at a flirtation with Christian nationalism.
CNN’s AJ Willingham recently highlighted the undertones of Christian nationalism in Trump’s endorsement of the “God Bless the USA” Bible, retailing at $59.99. This particular Bible also includes the US Constitution and other founding documents, a fusion of Christianity and patriotism that historian Jemar Tisby finds problematic. Tisby expressed concern over the blending of devotion to God and love of country, particularly with Trump as the spokesperson.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, the Georgia Democrat and senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, likened the Bibles to other Trump-branded products. However, he noted that the intertwining of public policy and religion goes beyond mere product marketing. He argued that religion is being weaponized as a tool in the culture wars, a deviation from the principle of separating church and state.
Biden faced criticism from Wilton Cardinal Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, on “Face the Nation” for selectively adhering to Catholicism. Gregory labeled Biden a “cafeteria Catholic,” one who picks and chooses elements of the faith. Biden’s political rivals also criticized him for declaring March 31 as the Transgender Day of Visibility, which coincidentally fell on Easter Sunday this year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson accused the Biden administration of betraying the central tenet of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Johnson expressed outrage over the perceived dismissal of sacred truth and tradition. Biden dismissed Johnson’s comments as uninformed during the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Conservative critics also accused Biden of banning religious-themed designs at White House Easter events. However, White House aides clarified that this long-standing policy was also in place during Trump’s presidency. While these minor controversies may seem trivial, they underscore larger issues regarding the religious makeup of the country and the role of the Bible in public life.
A Pew Research Center survey released in March revealed a divide over the Bible’s influence on US laws. Nearly half the country believes the Bible should have significant influence, while the other half disagrees. Notably, there is a partisan split, with two-thirds of Republicans favoring biblical influence compared to one-third of Democrats.
PRRI research from February highlighted the significance of Christian nationalism within Trump’s political base. More than 30% of Americans might sympathize with Christian nationalism, defined as the belief that America was meant by God to be a Christian nation. PRRI president and founder Robert Jones emphasized the role of this political theology in supporting Trump and the MAGA movement.