Trump holding Bible anything but humble

In 2016, in remarks before students at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University, Donald Trump alluded to “2 Corinthians,” rather than Second Corinthians. At that time Trump was running for the presidency and was attempting to establish his religious credentials with evangelical voters.

I was reminded of that speech when I saw the photos of the president standing in front of the historic St. Johns Episcopal Church in D.C. A reporter asked him if that was his Bible he was holding. His response? “It’s a Bible.”

Like his 2 Corinthians gaffe, that answer to the reporter’s question perfectly illustrates Trump’s mendacity in representing himself to the nation he leads. He couldn’t tell you the first thing about why Paul was writing to the church in Corinth. After his bellicose speech in the Rose Garden, in which he threatened to use military force on the folks protesting the death of George Floyd, he needed a symbol, and a Bible — any Bible — would serve his purpose.

The church behind Trump had plywood over the windows; it had been set afire during the rioting a day or two earlier. That didn’t matter, since he had no intention of going inside — to pray, to humble himself.

He had to borrow someone’s Bible to display for the cameras. Then he walked back into the White House to watch himself on TV.

Russ Kesler Orlando