Trump joins America Reads the Bible, shares 2 Chronicles from Oval Office

President Donald Trump read from the Bible during a nationwide reading marathon, reciting a passage in which God promises to “heal [the] land.”

Trump participated in the America Reads the Bible marathon Tuesday, reading aloud 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 via a pre-recorded video message that lasted approximately three minutes. The president read the scripture passage from his desk in the Oval Office. When Trump finished speaking, the Bible-reading marathon continued with former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson reading 2 Chronicles 8, and his wife, Candy Carson, reading 2 Chronicles 9. 

The event, which kicked off Sunday and is scheduled to run through Saturday, features a variety of speakers, including political figures, religious leaders and celebrities reading every word of the Bible over an 84-hour period as part of an effort to “call the American people back to daily Bible reading for the well-being of our country” ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Bible reading is taking place every day this week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Most of the Bible reading is taking place at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Americans nationwide can join the event in person or via livestream. 

The verse read by Trump includes the phrase, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." The idea of “healing our land” loomed large throughout the event, with the opening celebration for the Bible-reading marathon concluding with a performance of the song “Heal Our Land” by Christian musician Phil King.