Even 'devout Christians' are appalled as OK mulls $3.3 million bid on 'Trump Bibles' for schools

04 October 2024

In deep red Oklahoma — a state that Donald Trump carried by 33 percent in the 2020 presidential election — Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters has ordered, on June 27, that all public schools must have Bibles in classrooms for Grades 5-12.

Since the order was handed down, Oklahoma public schools have been scrambling to make sure they have Bibles on hand. And according to The Oklahoman, the Bible that mostly easily fits Walters' requirement is the "Trump Bible."

The "Trump Bible" is singer Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA Bible," which Trump has endorsed and been making money from. Greenwood's "Trump Bible" sells for $60 each online, and Trump has been receiving fees for his endorsement. And the cost to Oklahoma could come out to $3.3 million or more.

Oklahoman reporters Jennifer Palmer, Paul Monies and Heather Warlick note that when bids opened for a contract to supply 55,000 Bibles to the Oklahoma Department of Education, there were very specific criteria.

"According to the bid documents," the journalists explain, "vendors must meet certain specifications: Bibles must be the King James Version; must contain the Old and New Testaments; must include copies of the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and must be bound in leather or leather-like material."

Palmer, Monies and Warlick continue, "A salesperson at Mardel Christian & Education searched, and though they carry 2900 Bibles, none fit the parameters. But one Bible fits perfectly: Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and commonly referred to as the Trump Bible."

Oklahoma's relationship with the "Trump Bible" is receiving a lot of discussion on X, formerly Twitter.

The Washington Post's Megan McArdle tweeted, "This is beyond gross — not just the grift, but the fact that A GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION is requiring A RELIGIOUS BOOK come bedecked with our founding documents, which offends me as both an American and a Christian. A violation of the separation of church and state in spirit, if not in law."

X user @PedagogicalMess posted, "I'm a patriot and devout Christian. But funneling state funds to a political campaign in the name of religion is exactly why Christ overturned the tables in the temple. Cut this nonsense out, people."

Read The Oklahoman's full report at this link.

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