EGN NEWS DESK
Before he turned to politics, former President Donald J. Trump lent his star energy and movie star endorsement to a slew of client merchandise — steaks, vodka and even for-profit training, to call only a few.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, added a brand new merchandise to the listing: a $60 Bible.
Days earlier than Easter, Mr. Trump posted a video on his social media platform wherein he inspired his supporters to purchase the “God Bless the USA Bible,” named after the ballad by the nation singer Lee Greenwood, which Mr. Trump performs as he takes the stage at his rallies.
“All Americans want a Bible of their house, and I’ve many. It’s my favourite ebook,” mentioned Mr. Trump, who earlier than coming into politics was not overtly spiritual and who notably stumbled whereas referencing a ebook of the Bible throughout his 2016 marketing campaign. “It’s lots of people’s favourite ebook.”
Though Mr. Trump will not be promoting the Bible, he’s getting royalties from purchases, in line with an individual aware of the main points of the enterprise association.
Priced at $59.99, plus delivery and tax, the “God Bless the USA Bible” features a King James Bible and a handwritten model of the refrain of Mr. Greenwood’s music, and copies of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
In his video, Mr. Trump expressed his approval of the ebook’s mix of theology with foundational American political paperwork, framing that blend as central to the political name that has been his longtime marketing campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.
“Religion and Christianity are the most important issues lacking from this nation,” Mr. Trump mentioned. Later, he added, “We should make America pray once more.”
As he runs for president this 12 months, Mr. Trump has framed his marketing campaign as a campaign to defend Christian values from the left. He usually makes false or deceptive claims that Democrats are persecuting Christians. Last month, he advised a spiritual media conference that Democrats wished to “tear down crosses.”
His Bible gross sales pitch comes as he seems to be confronting a major monetary squeeze. With his authorized charges rising whereas he fights 4 prison instances and a variety of civil lawsuits, Mr. Trump can also be being required to publish a $175 million bond whereas he appeals his New York civil fraud case — a hefty quantity, although one that’s considerably smaller than the $454 million penalty imposed within the case.
According to the Bible’s web site, Mr. Trump’s “title, likeness and picture” are getting used “beneath paid license from CIC Ventures LLC.”
The Trump marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to questions concerning the enterprise association. But CIC Ventures can also be related to a different product Mr. Trump has hawked whereas campaigning: $399 “Never Surrender” sneakers that he introduced at a sneaker conference in Philadelphia final month.
