WASHINGTON – Donald Trump, who is leading the Republican Party for a third presidential election, is endorsing a Bible now.
After the former president endorsed NFT trading cards and his limited edition $399 gold sneakers, he promoted Melvin Lee Greenwood’s new venture: The $59.99 “God Bless the USA” Bible.
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Tomi Lahren also endorsed the King James version promoted by the country music singer-songwriter, best known for his patriotic “God Bless The USA” song.
In a video released on Tuesday, Trump held up the Bible and said, “All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book. It’s a lot of peoples’ favorite book.”
The Bible includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Greenwood’s handwritten lyrics.
On Monday, in a Truth Social post, Trump compared his legal struggles to the persecution that Jesus Christ faced. Trump’s hush money case in New York includes adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
“We have to bring Christianity back into our lives and into what will be again a great nation. Our Founding Fathers did a tremendous thing when they built America on Judeo-Christian values,” Trump said in the video. “Now that foundation is under attack, perhaps as never before.”
The Washington Post reported Trump is in a “cash crunch” and The New York Times reported Trump was getting paid royalties for the sales of the Bible.
The Bible’s site mentions a “paid license from CIC Ventures LLC,” which NPR reported is registered under Trump. Trump faces legal expenses and is fundraising for his campaign.
During his Bible sales pitch, Trump said, “Happy Holy Week! Let’s make America pray again.”
COSTLY LEGAL TROUBLES
- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed the hush money case accusing Trump of falsifying records. Judge Juan Merchan recently set the jury selection to start on April 15.
- Writer E. Jean Carroll, who alleged Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, sued Trump for defamation and won civil court judgments against him for $5 million last year and $83.3 million in January. Trump posted a $83.3 million bond and appealed.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil suit against Trump accusing him of fraud in a scheme to exaggerate his net worth. Judge Arthur Engoron ruled Trump must pay over $355 million. An appeals court recently reduced his bond from $464 million to $175 million.
- Jack Smith, a special counsel in the U.S. Justice Department, charged Trump with 37 felonies last year related to removing documents from the White House to store these in Mar-a-Lago.
- Smith also charged Trump with four felonies for his alleged efforts to stay in power in 2020.
- Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis accused Trump of racketeering last year over an alleged conspiracy to change the outcome of the 2020 election.
- There are other cases alleging Trump should be excluded from the November ballot because of his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Torres contributed to this report from Miami.