Trending Now - Trump to Share Bible Verse in Oval Office Following Pope Dispute
WHO:
The Guardian - Senator John Kennedy emphasized his respect for Catholicism and stated, “Why do we want to have a fight with the pope? It’s a distraction. And the press just sucks it up like a Hoover Deluxe [vacuum cleaner].”
The Guardian - Trump has repeatedly praised Pope Leo XIV’s eldest brother, Louis Prevost, an avid Trump supporter who lives in Florida.
The Guardian - Senator John Kennedy stated, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” in response to Trump’s comments about Pope Leo XIV.
The Guardian - JD Vance defended Trump, stating, “Stick to matters of, you know, what’s going on in the Catholic church,” regarding Trump’s attacks on the pope.
The Guardian - Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana criticized Trump’s “holy war” against Pope Leo XIV during a Fox News interview on April 18, 2026.
US Magazine - President Donald Trump, 79 years old
CNN - Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
CNN - Pope Leo XIV, Couy Griffin, Anne Graham Lotz, Bunni Pounds, Margaret Susan Thompson
WHAT:
CNN - Trump criticized the pope, stating, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” during a press interaction.
CNN - The verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14 gained public attention when Couy Griffin prayed over the crowd at the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot.
CNN - Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, saying, “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon,” during a press interaction.
CNN - Trump described the pope as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” in a Truth Social post.
CNN - Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, stated they “needed someone special to read Second Chronicles, chapter seven” and specifically set aside the passage for Trump to read.
CNN - Margaret Susan Thompson, a professor at Syracuse University, noted that the verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14 has been viewed by many Evangelical Christians as a “justification of calling upon God to bless their nation.”
The Guardian - Kennedy stated, “I love the president like a taco,” and expressed disagreement with Trump’s feud with the pope, calling it a distraction.
US Magazine - Trump will participate in the “America Reads the Bible” week-long livestream.
CNN - Trump is scheduled to read Scripture via video message from the Oval Office on April 21, 2026, during the 6 p.m. EST hour.
CNN - Trump will read a passage from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, including the verse 14: “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.”
CNN - Trump faced backlash for posting and then deleting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus.
WHERE:
US Magazine - The livestream will take place from the Oval Office.
CNN - The event is part of the “America Reads The Bible” initiative.
WHEN:
US Magazine - The announcement was made on April 17, 2026.
CNN - Trump’s Bible reading is scheduled for April 21, 2026.
WHY:
The Guardian - The pope responded to Trump’s threat regarding Iran, calling Trump’s remarks “truly unacceptable” and noted that “attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law.”
The Guardian - The feud between Trump and Pope Leo XIV has been linked to the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, with the pope calling Trump’s remarks “truly unacceptable.”
CNN - The Trump administration has been integrating Christian language into public affairs, including asking Americans to pray for an hour a week and hosting prayer services at federal agencies.
The Guardian - Kennedy emphasized that the pope should be “entitled to his opinion” and questioned the need for a conflict with him.
CNN - The event is part of the administration's effort to integrate religion, particularly Christianity, into official business.
CNN - Trump’s participation is notable due to his recent feud with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran conflict.
HOW:
CNN - At a Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared reporters to Pharisees, stating they are “the self-appointed elites of their time” who doubted Jesus’ “goodness.”
CNN - Trump stated, “I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross,” explaining his rationale for posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus.
CNN - At a Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared reporters to Pharisees, referring to them as “the self-appointed elites of their time” who doubted Jesus’ “goodness.”
The Guardian - Kennedy highlighted his respect for Catholicism and noted that he and his wife founded their local church chapter.
CNN - The Bible reading will be conducted via video message.
(UPDATED April 20, 2026 21:11 UTC)
Senator John Kennedy expressed his respect for Catholicism, questioning why there should be a conflict with the pope, while Trump criticized the pope during a press interaction, saying, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.” In response to Trump’s remarks about Iran, the pope called them “truly unacceptable” and emphasized that attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law. Meanwhile, at a Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew a comparison between reporters and Pharisees, labeling them as “the self-appointed elites of their time.”
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(UPDATED April 20, 2026 17:19 UTC)
Senator John Kennedy expressed his disapproval of President Trump's comments about Pope Leo XIV, stating he doesn't want a pope who thinks it's acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. In defense of Trump, JD Vance suggested that the former president should focus on issues within the Catholic Church rather than attacking the pope, who has called Trump's remarks “truly unacceptable.” Additionally, Trump explained his rationale for posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus by saying he thought it was related to his work as a doctor and the Red Cross.
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(UPDATED April 20, 2026 09:32 UTC)
Bunni Pounds, the founder and president of Christians Engaged, announced that they specifically wanted President Trump to read Second Chronicles, chapter seven, during a recent event. This passage, particularly 2 Chronicles 7:14, has been seen by many Evangelical Christians as a call for divine blessing on the nation, a sentiment echoed by Syracuse University professor Margaret Susan Thompson. Meanwhile, at a Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew a controversial comparison between reporters and Pharisees, labeling them as “the self-appointed elites of their time” who questioned Jesus’ goodness.
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(UPDATED April 20, 2026 04:05 UTC)
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana criticized Trump’s ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV during a Fox News interview on Saturday, calling it a distraction. Kennedy expressed his affection for Trump in a lighthearted way, saying, “I love the president like a taco,” while emphasizing that the pope is entitled to his opinion. He also highlighted his respect for Catholicism, noting that he and his wife founded their local church chapter.
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(UPDATED April 20, 2026 01:21 UTC)
President Trump, who is 79 years old, is set to participate in the “America Reads the Bible” initiative by reading Scripture from the Oval Office April 21st, during the 6 p.m. EST hour. He will share a passage from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, including the well-known verse 14, which speaks about humility and prayer. This event comes amid a backdrop of controversy, as Trump recently faced backlash for posting and then deleting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, and it marks a significant moment in his ongoing efforts to integrate Christianity into his administration's activities.