Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) has criticized former President Donald Trump for selling $60 “God Bless the USA” Bibles. Warnock, a pastor, said that Trump’s actions were not surprising, given his history of commercializing sacred items.
What Happened: Warnock, during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, condemned Trump’s latest merchandising efforts.
He stated, “The Bible does not need Donald Trump's endorsement, and Jesus in the very last week of his life chased the money changers out of the temple, those who would take sacred things and use them as cheap relics to be sold in the marketplace.”
Warnock further added, “The sad thing is that none of us are surprised by this. This is what we expect from the former president,” pointing out Trump’s history of branding and selling other items like steaks, sneakers, and real estate training school.
Despite the Bible’s sales not contributing to Trump’s campaign funds, the former president is likely to benefit from the licensing agreement, as stated on the Bible’s website.
Why It Matters: Trump began promoting the Bibles on social media shortly after a New York state appeals court reduced the bond amount he had to post to halt the enforcement of a $454 million civil judgment for corporate fraud to $175 million.
This decision followed Trump’s earlier acquisition of a $91.6 million bond to delay the enforcement of an $83.3 million verdict against him for defaming author and advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of raping her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.
Trump’s move to sell a diverse range of products, including Bibles, sneakers, and perfume, has been described as unprecedented for a presidential candidate, experts say. This approach has garnered both criticism and attention, with figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) suggesting that Trump should consider reading the Bible’s verse on adultery.
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