Bibles that Oklahoma wants for schools match version backed by Trump
Oklahoma’s top education official is seeking to purchase 55,000 Bibles for public schools and specifying that each copy contain the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution — which are not commonly found in Bibles but are included in one endorsed by former President Trump.
The request is part of state Supt. of Public Instruction Ryan Walters’ efforts to require Bibles in every classroom, which has been met with resistance by some of Oklahoma’s largest school districts.
Walters, a Republican, aims to spend $3 million in state funds for Bibles that fit certain criteria, including that the pages are supplemented with U.S. historical materials. The Bibles must also be “bound in leather or leather-like material for durability,” according to state bidding documents posted last week.
The nonprofit news outlet Oklahoma Watch first reported Thursday that the requirements match the “God Bless the USA Bible” that Trump urged his supporters to begin buying this year at a website that sells the book for $59.99.
The former president is selling a bible with lyrics to the song “God Bless the USA” alongside the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Pledge of Allegiance.
Asked Friday if the state’s bid was tailored for the Bible backed by Trump, a spokesman for Walters said the proposal was open to any vendor.
“There are hundreds of Bible publishers, and we expect a robust competition for this proposal,” said Dan Isett, a spokesman for the Department of Education.
Former state Atty. Gen. Drew Edmondson, a Democrat, said the bid “does not pass the smell test” and said a court could void it if the process was found to limit competition.
“All fingers point to the Trump Bible that does contain all these requirements,” Edmondson said.
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In June, Walters ordered public schools to incorporate the Bible into lessons for grades five through 12. The bidding documents also specify that the Bibles include the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Bill of Rights.
“We can see there are very few Bibles on the market that would meet these criteria, and all of them have been endorsed by former President Donald Trump,” said Colleen McCarty, executive director of Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.
The name of the Bible backed by Trump is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events.
The Bible’s website states the product “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.” It says the site “uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC.”
Trump reported earning $300,000 off sales of the Bible, according to financial disclosures released in August. His campaign did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday evening.
Walters, a former public school teacher who was elected to his post in 2022, ran on a platform of fighting “woke ideology,” banning books from school libraries and ridding schools of “radical leftists.”
Miller writes for the Associated Press.
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