He is condemning Trump.
Senator Raphael Warnock, representing Georgia, strongly criticized former President Donald Trump for his collaboration with country music star Lee Greenwood in selling $60 Bibles. Warnock, also serving as the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, expressed his disapproval of Trump’s actions during an interview on CNN.
Warnock emphasized that the Bible does not require endorsement from Donald Trump, drawing parallels to Jesus’ actions in driving out money changers from the temple. He highlighted Trump’s pattern of commercializing various ventures, such as steaks and Trump University, both of which faced legal challenges.
In Warnock’s view, Trump’s attempt to sell expensive Bibles represents a risky move, particularly considering the incongruity between the scriptures’ teachings and Trump’s behavior. He cautioned that purchasers of these Bibles might confront passages condemning falsehoods and hypocrisy, posing a potential challenge for Trump.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Warnock’s statements, as reported by NBC News.
Trump commenced promoting the Bibles during Holy Week, a significant period leading up to Easter for many Christians. In a video shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump touted the Bible as his favorite book and advocated for the resurgence of religion and Christianity in the country.
It was disclosed that Trump stands to receive royalties from the sales of the $60 Bible, although the specifics of the royalty agreement remain unclear, according to a source familiar with the arrangement cited by The New York Times. This collaboration underscores Trump’s history of marketing branded merchandise and his ongoing efforts to capitalize on his name and image.
