Trump Reads 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 on Repentance After AI Jesus Image Controversy

In the United States, President Donald Trump read a passage from the Old Testament in a pre-recorded video for the event “America Reads the Bible,” a week after he published an image generated by artificial intelligence in which he appears to be Jesus wearing a white tunic and various patriotic symbols.

Folha de S.Paulo said Trump recited the passage “in the late afternoon of this Tuesday (21)” with “the Bible opened on the table,” and it described the event as promoted by the Museum of the Bible in Washington.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported that Trump read a Bible passage “about punishment and national repentance” as part of a “Republican-led marathon event,” describing the reading as taking place “amid a standoff with the pope and criticism for an AI image of himself as Jesus.”

The Daily Beast similarly tied the reading to the earlier controversy, saying Trump participated in “an ‘America Reads The Bible’ event on Tuesday” and read from “the Old Testament, specifically 2 Chronicles 7:11-22.”

WION added that Trump read from “2 Chronicles 7:11-22” using the “Easy Read version of the King James Bible,” and it quoted the frequently cited verse beginning, “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 their land.”

In the Folha account, Trump justified the AI image by saying, “I thought it was me as a doctor [in the image],” after criticism from Christian supporters, and it said he deleted the post after backlash.

Sojourners placed the timing in a broader sequence, saying the reading “aired on Tuesday night,” that “America Reads the Bible” began on “April 18 and runs through April 25,” and that Trump recorded the reading “last week.”

Across multiple outlets, the focus of Trump’s reading was 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, with several reports emphasizing that the passage is set during the reign of King Solomon and the dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem.

Folha de S.Paulo said the text “takes place during the dedication of the temple by King Solomon in ancient Jerusalem,” and it described the content as God responding to Solomon after the dedication, promising to “hear prayers and to heal the land if his people humble themselves, pray, and repent.”

Folha de S.Paulo

WION similarly described the passage as “set during the reign of King Solomon at the dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem roughly 3,000 years ago,” and it said the reading included the “frequently cited 14th verse.”

The Daily Beast reported that Trump read from “2 Chronicles 7:11-22” and that the president’s video included “the 14th verse, which is most often quoted by Christian nationalists,” quoting the verse in the King James Easy Read wording.

It also highlighted a second, sterner portion of the same chapter, quoting “But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them, then will I pluck them up from the roots out of my land which I have given them, and this house which I have sanctified, for my name will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among nations.”

WION framed the passage as “long considered polarising” and said it is “associated with the Christian nationalist movement,” while Word&Way described Trump’s selection as “Red Meat for Christian Nationalists.”

Sojourners added that “America Reads the Bible” is “organized by the nonprofit Christians Engaged,” and it stated that Trump recorded his reading “directly into the camera from his seat in the Oval Office.”

The Bible reading unfolded against a backdrop of tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, which multiple outlets described as intensifying after Trump criticized the pontiff and posted the AI image.

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Sojourners

Folha de S.Paulo said the problems between Trump and the pope grew after Trump “criticized the pontiff and called him 'terrible' and 'weak' on social media,” and it quoted Trump saying in a White House interview, “The pope said things that are wrong and he is against what I am doing in Iran, and we cannot have a nuclear Iran.”

It also reported that the pope positioned himself against the war, saying, “God does not bless any conflict,” and that those who follow Christ do not support “the launching of bombs,” while the pontiff later promised to continue speaking about the war.

The Daily Beast described Trump’s earlier attacks as “hurling insults at the pope,” and it quoted Trump’s post saying, “Leo should be thankful,” and that “he wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

WION said Trump’s reading came “just days after he stirred controversy by posting a picture depicting himself as Jesus Christ” and while he was “embroiled in a very public feud with the head of Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV.”

In the Folha account, Trump’s participation in the event also followed his attempt to justify the AI Jesus image after criticism, with Trump saying, “I thought it was me as a doctor [in the image],” and it noted he deleted the social media post after backlash.

The Daily Beast added that Trump later doubled down on his criticisms of the pope, telling reporters, “I am not a fan of Pope Leo,” and saying, “He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man who doesn’t believe in stopping crime.”

Trump’s Bible reading and the earlier AI Jesus controversy drew both criticism and praise, with named figures and outlets describing how different audiences interpreted the same actions.

The Daily Beast reported that several prominent MAGA supporters objected to Trump’s artwork and attacks on the pope, quoting Marjorie Taylor Greene on X saying, “On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus.”

The Daily Beast

It also quoted right-wing podcaster Michael Knowles writing to his followers, “I assume someone has already told him, but it behooves the President both spiritually and politically to delete the picture, no matter the intent.”

WION included a critique from Baptist pastor and Word&Way editor Brian Kaylor, who said, “This verse is not about the United States,” and added, “It is a promise made to one particular person in one particular moment. It doesn't really work to pull it out of context and apply it to whatever you want to.”

The Daily Beast also described how Trump’s reading “appeared to go down well with much of his base,” quoting right-wing commentator Eric Daugherty calling the reading “incredible,” and it quoted 19-year-old MAGA influencer Bo Loudon writing, “made every Christian voter across the USA proud to be an American.”

Sojourners reported that the AI image controversy “raised the ire” even of “stalwart supporters like conservative Christian activists Candance Owens and Sean Feucht,” and it said Trump’s opportunity to read verses came “at an opportune time to attempt to smooth things over with his Christian base.”

Word&Way (RNS) described the reading as “theatrics” and said the choice of text “shows he remains at the center of Christian Nationalist visions,” while it also argued that the verse’s context is being stripped away.

The outlets also described the broader structure of “America Reads the Bible,” including dates, location, and who else is participating, tying Trump’s reading to a larger national religious media moment.

“US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Apr 21) participated in a week-long national Bible-reading event, delivering a pre-recorded reading from the Oval Office”

WION

Sojourners said the marathon “began on April 18 and runs through April 25,” and it described it as a “spiritual celebration” of the country’s “250th anniversary,” adding that “Almost 500 people will participate in reading the entirety of the Bible.”

WION

It reported that Trump recorded his reading “last week” and that it would be “belivestreamedand aired at the Museum of the Bible,” while Word&Way said the project is occurring “inside the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., and via online streaming.”

Sojourners also listed other participants, saying “Members of Trump’s cabinet like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles are also participating.”

Folha de S.Paulo described the event as “America Reads the Bible” and said Trump’s participation was “promoted by the Museum of the Bible in Washington,” while Al Jazeera described it as a “Republican-led marathon event.”

The Daily Beast added that the event is “arranged to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary,” and it said Trump’s video was pre-recorded and aired as part of the week-long scripture reading.

In addition to the event itself, Folha de S.Paulo provided a political framing by quoting Aaron Kall, director of debates at the University of Michigan, who said Trump’s behavior does not “seem to follow a totally organized strategy” and described a “weave” pattern of shifting attention.