You’ve seen the photo. It’s 2020, the height of the George Floyd protests, and Donald Trump is standing in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, holding a black book high in the air. People still argue about it today. Some say it was a powerful moment of leadership; others saw it as a sacrilegious photo op. But there is one specific claim that keeps popping up like a bad penny: the idea of Trump not touching the Bible—or at least, not in the way most people expect a religious leader to.
Honestly, the whole event was a chaotic mess. Before he even got to the church, federal officers used tear gas and flash-bangs to clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square. It was a jarring transition. One minute, you have the sound of canisters popping and people coughing; the next, the President is walking across the park with a small entourage. When he finally reached the church, he didn't go inside. He didn't pray. He just... held it.
The St. John's Photo Op: Was it Upside Down?
One of the biggest myths about that day is that he held the Bible upside down. If you look at the high-resolution shots from photographers like Patrick Semansky, you can actually see the ribbon markers. He was holding it correctly, though he did sort of fumble with it for a second, turning it over to find the right grip. When a reporter shouted, "Is that your Bible?" Trump’s response was peak Trump: "It’s a Bible."
That distinction—a Bible versus my Bible—sent the internet into a tailspin. It later came out that the book actually belonged to his daughter, Ivanka, who had been carrying it in her $1,540 Max Mara bag. It’s these little details that fuel the narrative that he doesn't have a personal connection to the text. For critics, it wasn't just about him touching the physical book; it was about whether the values inside the book were "touching" his policy.
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The "Two Corinthians" Moment and Favorite Verses
If you want to understand why people think there's a disconnect between Trump and the Bible, you have to go back to 2016 at Liberty University. He famously referred to "Two Corinthians" instead of "Second Corinthians." To a room full of evangelicals, that’s like saying "The Two Testament" instead of the Second Testament. It’s a dead giveaway that you aren't a regular in the pews.
Then there’s the "eye for an eye" thing. When asked about his favorite verse, he’s pointed to the Old Testament law of retaliation. It’s a bit ironic because, well, the New Testament is basically built on Jesus saying, "You’ve heard it said 'eye for an eye,' but I tell you: turn the other cheek."
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- Proverbs 24:1-2: He once mentioned a verse about "not bending to envy."
- The "Personal" Defense: Often, when asked for a specific verse, he says it’s "too personal" to share.
- The Art of the Deal: He frequently calls the Bible his "favorite book," but always adds that his own book is a close second.
Why the Symbolism Matters More Than the Reading
For a huge chunk of his base, it doesn't actually matter if he reads the thing. This is the nuance that many pundits miss. To his supporters, the act of holding the Bible in front of a church that had been vandalized by protesters was a signal of "Law and Order." It was a "talisman."
Religious scholars like those from the General Board of Church and Society have pointed out that he treats the Bible as a political decoration. But for a voter in rural Ohio or Florida, seeing the President stand up for "Christian values" in the face of civil unrest is enough. They aren't looking for a theologian; they’re looking for a bodyguard for their culture.
The 2024 "God Bless the USA" Bible
Fast forward to his more recent moves, and the relationship with the book has shifted from just holding it to selling it. He partnered with country singer Lee Greenwood to promote the "God Bless the USA Bible." It’s a King James Version that includes copies of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
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This isn't just a religious book anymore; it’s a nationalist one. By binding the founding documents of the U.S. into the same cover as the Gospels, he’s making a very specific statement about American identity. It’s brilliant marketing, even if it makes traditional clergy want to pull their hair out.
What's the Real Takeaway?
Whether or not he's "touching" the Bible in a spiritual sense is a debate that will never end. He’s been confirmed in a Presbyterian church and has shifted his identity toward "non-denominational Christian" in recent years. But his "crusade" is clearly more about the cultural power of Christianity than the quiet study of its verses.
If you’re trying to navigate these conversations, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Fact-Check the Memes: Don’t repeat the "upside down" claim; it’s factually wrong and makes your argument look weak.
- Look at the Context: The 2020 church visit wasn't a religious service; it was a response to the "Bunker Boy" headlines that had been mocking him for hiding during the protests.
- Understand the "Talisman" Effect: Realize that for many, the Bible is a symbol of Western Civilization, not just a book of ancient Hebrew and Greek texts.
The next time this topic comes up at dinner, you’ll know that the story isn't about a man who forgot how to hold a book. It’s about how one of the most polarizing figures in history uses the most famous book in history to draw a line in the sand.