Trump Tackles a New Topic on Twitter

He backs Bible literacy classes, something he hasn't discussed before
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 28, 2019 1:07 PM CST
Trump's Bible Tweet Sparks a Conversation
President Donald Trump waves as he walks through the Colonnade from the Oval Office of the White House on arrival to announce a deal to temporarily reopen the government, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A tweet from President Trump was the subject of discussion and scrutiny on Monday, and this time, the topic wasn't one of his habitual ones. He wrote, "Numerous states introducing Bible Literacy classes, giving students the option of studying the Bible. Starting to make a turn back? Great!" Politico reports the tweet came 30 minutes after Fox & Friends did a segment on the move to add these elective courses in public schools. The segment featured North Dakota Rep. Aaron McWilliams, the co-sponsor of one such bill. Politico notes that Trump's tweet wasn't exactly correct in that no state has passed a bill along these lines. What you need to know:

  • Politico cites a USA Today article published last Wednesday on the "wave of 'Bible literacy' bills." It's a good primer that details how lawmakers in six states—Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia—have in 2019 introduced bills that would mandate or encourage public schools to carry classes narrowly focused on the Bible from a historical and literary perspective. In 2017, Kentucky instituted a Bible studies law that offered guidelines for public schools regarding the electives.

  • While many argue the bills infringe on the separation of church and state (the Daily Caller notes opposition from groups like the ACLU make the road to passage a bumpy one), the Week reports the classes wouldn't run into legal trouble as long as they "focus on the Bible's historical and literary import and eschew proselytization, remaining agnostic toward the book's religious claims just as a course teaching Homer's Odyssey could not push students toward belief in Zeus."
  • An effort called "Project Blitz" is trying to smooth out that bumpy road, reports USA Today. It says the proposals currently in play are linked to the initiative, which is backed by conservative Christian political groups.
  • Vox notes that it's not an issue Trump has spoken about before, and suggests he's perhaps trying to shore up his "slipping" support among Evangelicals. "Backing a cause supported by many Christians and reminding Fox he’s still a loyal viewer made for a potentially politically useful tweet."
  • The Washington Post reports some critics on Twitter were quick to pounce on the topic of Trump's own Bible literacy, flagging a speech in January 2016 when then-candidate Trump spoke of "two Corinthians" instead of "Second Corinthians."
  • Count Tony Schwartz, Trump's Art of the Deal co-author, among those critics. He tweeted, "Trump is touting 'bible literacy' classes this morning. This raises disingenuousness to a whole new level. Trump never reads any books. He is the least religious man alive, and he has certainly never read the Bible voluntarily."
  • But the Daily Caller notes the Bible isn't absent in the White House: As of 2018, department heads including Betsy DeVos, Ben Carson, and Rick Perry participated in a Bible study together.
(A GOP elector quit over what he said was Trump's lack of bibilical qualifications to be president.)

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