Trump, God Bless the USA singer Lee Greenwood partner up to sell $59.99 Bibles
The venture comes as Trump — ridiculed for awkwardly holding a Bible in front of a church four years ago — is reportedly strapped for cash.
Global Christians are marking Holy Week, and on Tuesday Donald Trump announced that he has partnered with singer Lee Greenwood to sell Bibles for $59.99.
"All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It's my favorite book," Trump said in a video posted on his social media platform. "It's a lot of peoples' favorite book."
The announcement follows Trump's unveiling of $399 sneakers in Philadelphia in February. And it elicited scoffing that Trump is "commodifying the Bible during Holy Week," as conservative commentator Charlie Sykes stated on a network news program Wednesday morning.
The venture comes as Trump — ridiculed for awkwardly holding a Bible in front of a church four years ago — is reportedly strapped for cash. He recently posted a $91 million bond as he appeals a jury award in a defamation case brought against him by a New York writer.
On Monday, a New York state appeals court ruling said Trump needs to post another bond, $175 million, while he appeals an even more massive disgorgement penalty in a civil fraud verdict against him and the Trump Organization. Should he lose the appeal, Trump will be on the hook for the entire $354 million judgement plus interest.
And on the campaign trail, President Joe Biden's campaign has been trolling Trump over reported February fundraising totals.
In a statement last week, the Biden-Harris campaign noted the $20 million Trump reportedly raised in February was less than half the $53 million the president's own re-election effort netted last month, including $10 million in a 24-hour period after Biden's State of the Union Address. And they said Trump had less than $42 million in cash, while they had access to $155 million.
Trump Bible packaged with copies of U.S. Constitution, Pledge of Allegiance
In public remarks on Monday, Trump rebuffed claims he is financially hamstrung and again asserted that he "built a phenomenal company" with low debt and "a lot cash flow."
In the video he released Tuesday, Trump stated the Bible endeavor reflected his desire to see religion return to American society in paramount fashion and intimated that he believes America is a Christian nation, an issue constitutional and legal scholars have rejected.
"We have to bring Christianity back into our lives and into what will be again a great nation," Trump said. "Our Founding Fathers did a tremendous thing when they built America on Judeo-Christian values. Now that foundation is under attack, perhaps as never before."
The Bible Trump and Greenwood are selling is a King James version, Trump said in the video embedded in the post, but also includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Greenwood, a self-described conservative Christian, is best known for his "God Bless The USA" song that Trump has adopted as an anthem.
"Happy Holy Week! Let's Make America Pray Again," Trump wrote on his social media platform. "As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible."
The website, however, advises delivery of the Bible will take four to six weeks.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.