You’ve probably seen the headlines or the viral clips by now. A former president, standing in front of a camera, holding up a leather-bound book and telling everyone it’s his favorite. But let’s get into the weeds here: did Trump sell Bibles himself, or was this just another licensing deal? It’s a bit of both, honestly, and the details are weirder than the soundbites suggest.
Back in March 2024, right around Holy Week, Donald Trump launched a partnership with country singer Lee Greenwood. You know Greenwood—he’s the guy who wrote "God Bless the USA," the anthem played at basically every Trump rally since the beginning of time. They called it the "God Bless the USA Bible." It wasn't just a King James Version, though. It was a mashup. It bundled the scriptures with the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
It even had the handwritten chorus of Greenwood's famous song inside.
The $60 Price Tag and the Money Trail
People immediately started asking how much this thing cost. The standard version launched at $59.99. For a Bible, that’s on the pricier side, especially when you can pick up a KJV at a thrift store for a dollar or get one for free at most churches. But this wasn’t about just the text. It was about the branding.
According to financial disclosures that came out later in 2024 and 2025, the "God Bless the USA Bible" wasn't a small side project. Trump actually reported earning over $1.3 million in royalties from this venture.
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Here’s where the business side gets kinda murky for the average observer. Trump didn't own the company selling the Bibles. The website, GodBlessTheUSABible.com, explicitly stated that it wasn't owned or controlled by Donald J. Trump or the Trump Organization. Instead, they paid a company called CIC Ventures LLC for the right to use his name and likeness. Since Trump owns CIC Ventures, the money essentially flowed from the sales, through the licensing agreement, and straight into his pocket.
The "Made in China" Twist
If you follow political news, you know Trump’s whole brand is "America First" and hitting China with heavy tariffs. So, it was a massive story when the Associated Press reported in October 2024 that these Bibles were actually printed in China.
- Production City: Hangzhou, China
- Manufacturer: New Ade Printing Company
- Cost per unit: Less than $3
- Retail price: $59.99
Shipping records showed that nearly 120,000 Bibles were sent to the U.S. from China early in the year. The irony wasn't lost on critics. You have a "patriotic" Bible containing the U.S. Constitution, endorsed by a man who regularly rails against Chinese trade practices, being manufactured in a Chinese factory for pennies on the dollar.
Why People Got So Mad
The reaction wasn't just political; it was deeply religious. A lot of Christian leaders and scholars were legitimately upset. They called it "blasphemous" or "toxic." Why? Because it mixed a holy text with secular government documents.
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In some circles, this is seen as "Christian Nationalism"—the idea that being American and being Christian are one and the same. By binding the Constitution and the Bible together, critics argued that Trump was literally equating the Word of God with the laws of man.
"The Bible isn't a branding opportunity," Leah Libresco Sargeant, a prominent Catholic author, told news outlets.
On the flip side, plenty of supporters loved it. They saw it as a way to bring "prayer back to America" and viewed the $60 as a way to support both their faith and their preferred candidate during a time when he was facing massive legal bills—over **$500 million** in civil judgments at the time.
More Than Just a $60 Book
While the $60 version got the most press, it wasn't the only thing on the menu. If you had deep pockets, you could go even bigger.
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- The Signature Edition: For a cool $1,000, you could get a Bible actually signed by Donald Trump.
- Special Editions: They eventually rolled out "Pink & Gold" versions, a "Veteran Edition," and even an "Inauguration Day Edition" priced between $75 and $100.
- The Materials: Despite the price, some early reviewers described the pages as "translucent" and the cover as feeling "sticky." It wasn't exactly a high-end heirloom piece for everyone who bought it.
The Bottom Line
So, did Trump sell Bibles? Yes, through a licensing deal that netted him over a million dollars. He didn't just "endorse" it for fun; it was a calculated business move that merged his political brand with religious identity.
Whether you see it as a brilliant marketing move or a cynical grab for cash depends entirely on your politics. But the facts remain: the Bibles exist, they were printed in China, and they made the former president a significant amount of money during a very expensive election year.
What You Should Do Next
If you're thinking about buying one of these or just want to understand the market better, here's what to look for:
- Check the Version: Remember this is a King James Version (KJV). If you prefer more modern English (like the NIV or ESV), this might be a tough read.
- Verify the Source: If you see "Trump Bibles" on eBay for $500, check the official site first. Resellers often hike the price of the "Signature Editions" specifically.
- Consider the "Why": If you want a study Bible, there are better options with extensive footnotes. If you want a piece of political memorabilia, that's exactly what this is.
Look into the shipping times if you decide to order; during peak campaign seasons, there were reports of long delays because the demand—or the shipping from overseas—slowed things down.
Next Step: You might want to research the CIC Ventures LLC disclosures if you're interested in how other products, like the "Never Surrender" sneakers, fit into this same business model.