U.S. President Donald Trump is set to take part in a national Bible reading event this week, in a move that underscores the growing role of religious expression in his administration’s public engagements.

According to organisers, the president will deliver a video message from the Oval Office on April 21 as part of the event titled “America Reads The Bible,” a weeklong programme aimed at encouraging public scripture reading.

The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of the administration’s increasing use of Christian themes in official activities, a trend that has drawn both support and criticism.

Event organiser Bunni Pounds said Trump was selected to read from the biblical passage 2 Chronicles 7:14, a verse widely referenced among evangelical Christians as a call for national repentance and divine intervention.

Analysts say the passage has long held symbolic significance in American religious and political discourse. Margaret Susan Thompson, a professor at Syracuse University, noted that while past leaders such as Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush have expressed personal faith in office, there has historically been caution against presenting religion as a national mandate.

She warned that elevating specific religious expressions in governance could raise concerns about the constitutional separation of church and state.

Trump’s planned participation also follows recent controversies, including backlash over an artificial intelligence-generated image he shared online depicting himself in a religious context, which he later removed.

Since returning to office, the administration has promoted religious engagement through initiatives such as encouraging citizens to dedicate time to prayer, sharing Bible verses on official platforms and hosting faith-based events within government institutions.

Some of these efforts have extended to federal agencies. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has been noted for incorporating religious references into official settings, including inviting clergy to lead prayer sessions at the Pentagon.

Critics argue that such actions risk blurring the line between personal belief and state policy, while supporters say they reflect the values of a significant segment of the American population.

The upcoming Bible reading is expected to further fuel debate over the role of religion in public life, particularly as political and cultural divisions continue to shape discourse in the United States.