Trump Refusing To Name Favorite Bible Verse Resurfaces Amid Jesus Backlash

President Donald Trump's unconvincing response when once asked to cite his favorite verse of the Bible has resurfaced on social media as questions linger over his Christian faith.

Despite insisting it was his “favorite book,” Trump refused to give an answer when quizzed on the topic during a 2019 interview with Mark Halperin and John Heilemann for Bloomberg Politics. He told his interviewers: “I don't want to get into that.” When asked if he preferred the Old or New Testament, Trump then replied simply, “equal.”

The response has resurfaced amid the backlash surrounding an AI-generated image Trump posted on Truth Social depicting himself as Jesus Christ. Though the president has insisted he was depicted as a doctor, the image, coupled with his attack on Pope Leo XIV, has left some conservatives questioning his religious credentials.

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.

Why It Matters

The AI Jesus image drew criticism from a raft of leading Conservative figures, including commentator Candace Owens and former GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. The latter denounced the image on social media and said she was “praying against it.” One previously pro-Trump pastor went even further, claiming the president's post was that of a “demon possessed.”

Though others like vice president JD Vance insist the post was created as a joke, the spat between Trump and the Pope, coupled with the AI Jesus accusations, have left American Catholics facing a collision of faith and politics. The president's faith, meanwhile, is once again under the microscope.

What To Know

The video of Trump being grilled on his knowledge of the Bible resurfaced on Reddit, where it was posted to the subreddit r/videos by the user u/SimplyEcks. In less than 24 hours since being shared, it has been upvoted over 25,000 times, generating more than 1,800 comments.

Though Trump’s responses drew derision from some quarters back in 2019, they have taken on new meaning in the wake of recent events, sparking renewed skepticism over his religious beliefs.

One user commented: “the entire pool of evidence that Trump read the Bible is Trump SAYING he’s read it. A Christian organization is on video pressing him for two minutes to quote one single Bible verse and he couldn’t.”

Another commented: “I’m sure this interview will still go down the way it did years ago. It’s not like he went home after the interview, thought that was embarrassing, and then thought that maybe he should get a little bit acquainted with Christianity.”

A third user, meanwhile, wrote: “I’m more concerned/convinced because his actions are diametrically opposed to the teachings and life of Jesus. Even if he had the Bible memorized, he’d still absolutely not be Christian.”

The video was also reposted on X by the account @HQNewsNow, where it has been watched over 1 million times and shared 2,600 times.

This version of the clip was shared by tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who wrote alongside it: “He never read the Bible.”

Former college history professor and Trump critic CJ Killmer also shared the clip writing: “He couldn't even just take the easiest way out & say ‘John 3:16’ & then paraphrase that passage reasonably okay. He knows the contents of the Bible less than most straight men (myself included) know the contents of all those novels with Fabio on the cover.”

A third user, @BenzionTelefus, who also appears opposed to the Trump administration, shared the clip, writing: “Signs are evident of a person with great faith and passion for the Scriptures.”

Daractenus, another online critic of the President, meanwhile, wrote alongside the video: “You’d think even his supporters can’t possibly be so cartoonishly stupid as to fall for something like this, but it turns out this is actually an old video from 2015, might even be what got them to vote for him twice for all we know.”

Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.

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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 8:44 AM.