Americans have studied, debated and pondered the Bible throughout the nation’s history, and on one point everyone can agree: It’s really long.
In fact, if you read the Good Book aloud continuously for 12 hours a day, it would take seven days to finish it – or at least that’s the plan behind America Reads the Bible, a historic celebration of Scripture timed to America’s 250th anniversary.
Organized by Christians Engaged, the first-of-its-kind event is designed to highlight the impact of the Bible in American history, including its influence on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as encourage “a renewed commitment to Bible reading across the country.”
“Through the America Reads the Bible week, we’re creating a visible, united moment for Americans to come back to the Bible — not as a symbol, but as daily spiritual sustenance. It’s a movement that starts with leaders and spreads to every city, every home, and every heart,” said the event in a statement. “Because when the Bible is read, people are changed. And when people are changed, nations can be healed.”
The 84-hour “Bible Marathon” began Sunday morning at the Museum of the Bible and runs daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Saturday. The readings from the King James Version Easy Reader are live-streamed free of charge on the America Reads the Bible website and the Great American Pure Flix app.
Fortunately, the event has plenty of voices. Nearly 500 participants have signed on to read biblical passages in order from Genesis through Revelation, notably President Trump, who will take his turn at 6 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday from the Oval Office.
Mr. Trump is scheduled to read from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, which includes the passage, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Next up is Ben Carson, who served as Housing and Urban Development Secretary during the first Trump administration, and his wife Candy Carson. A dozen current administration figures are also taking part, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“We are thankful that President Trump has agreed to read one of the most important Scripture passages for the American church, offering God’s promise that if we pray and repent as His people that He will forgive our sins and heal our land,” said Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, a ministry of the Family Police Alliance.
“What hope this moment gives us for national healing and renewal,” she said in a statement.
The event offers an opportunity for Mr. Trump to restore his standing with religious voters after sparring with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran War and posting an AI image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, creating tensions with Catholics and evangelicals.
The White House issued a statement in support of the reading, saying it will “inspire countless citizens to rediscover the Biblical truths that have animated our Republic for two and a half centuries.”
Kicking off the reading Sunday with Genesis 1:1-2 was actress Patricia Heaton, followed by Celebration of Life Church founding Pastor Jack Mooring; actress Candace Cameron Bure; Rep. Michael Cloud, Texas Republican, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Republican elected officials taking part include Texas Gov. Greg Abbott; Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa; House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana; Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Elected Democrats were invited, but none accepted the invitation.
“Although Bunni Pounds and her director Jayme Thompson invited 40 Democratic officeholders, none accepted,” America Reads the Bible spokesperson Gregg Wooding told The Washington Times.
Numerous religious leaders are also involved, such as evangelist Franklin Graham, founder of Samaritan’s Purse, and CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt.
“What we all know and what we cherish is that the founding of [our] nation was grounded in the Bible, the word of God, and so we’re going to celebrate that here on this appropriate anniversary to read through it all together from start to finish,” said Mr. Johnson at the Sunday press conference. “I think it will be the first time anything like this happened, at least in the modern era.”
America Reads the Bible is happening from Washington, D.C., April 18–25.
🕘 LIVE daily from 9 AM – 9 PM ET
📺 Streaming FREE on @PureFlixJoin the reading from Genesis to Revelation:
🔗 https://t.co/xfIu7SmbL9 pic.twitter.com/st1psFsuvG
— America Reads the Bible (ARTB) (@AmericaRTBible) April 19, 2026
Ms. Pounds has a background in politics. She worked as a Republican consultant and ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a Republican in Texas in 2018.
The reading themed “One Week. One Nation. One Event” was the brainchild of Ms. Pounds, who said she was inspired during a visit to the Museum of the Bible by the story of Ezra reading to the people of Jerusalem in the Book of Nehemiah.
“Just as Ezra read the Word aloud to the people of Israel (Nehemiah 8:1–3), awakening revival and repentance, inspiring them to rebuild the temple, and working with Nehemiah to mobilize the people to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, America Reads the Bible is a sacred opportunity to call our nation back to its spiritual foundations,” said the event website.
Ms. Pounds said her team spent 14 months organizing the event and lining up speakers to read from the King James Version Easy Read, which is more than 1,000 pages long.
“We need an Ezra moment in this nation to birth a new generation of leaders,” she said at the Saturday opening ceremony. “We need a moment of public proclamation of Scripture for us to understand again our national foundations and our true identity as a people together.
