A North Carolina evangelical pastor’s passionate critique of Donald Trump’s MAGA-themed Bibles has drawn attention to potential rifts in the former president’s conservative evangelical support. In early April, Rev. Loran Livingston’s sermon went viral after he denounced Trump’s endorsement of a $59.99 Bible that features an American flag, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the lyrics to conservative singer Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Livingston described these Bibles as “blasphemous” and “disgusting,” sparking a conversation about Trump’s use of religious symbols for political gain.
Livingston is not alone in his condemnation. Another conservative evangelical, Professor Andrew Walker from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, criticized Trump’s promotion of the Bible in a March op-ed. Walker argued that combining America’s founding documents with the Bible creates a “syncretistic expression of civil religion” that undermines both patriotism and religious faith. He added that Trump “lacks all the authority—and sincerity—to stand up and advertise a Bible for $59.99,” emphasizing that Bibles of this sort should not exist.
Trump’s promotion of these Bibles, which he did alongside Lee Greenwood, has faced backlash from both conservative and liberal religious circles. Democratic Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock cautioned that Trump’s attempt to capitalize on religious sentiment might backfire. In a March CNN interview, Warnock suggested that if people who purchase the Bible actually read it, they might find passages about lying, bearing false witness, and wolves in sheep’s clothing. He warned that Trump’s actions could be risky because they might reveal his insincerity.
Despite the controversies surrounding Trump, his evangelical support has remained largely steady. However, recent developments indicate that his base might not be as solid as he would like. Trump’s stance on abortion restrictions has wavered, especially after the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, causing concern among evangelical voters who support strict abortion laws. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden made slight gains among white evangelicals, highlighting that some religious conservatives might be reconsidering their loyalty to Trump.
