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Jimmy Williams
Donald Trump’s “God Bless the USA” Bibles, priced at $59.99, were printed in China, a country the former president frequently criticizes for unfair trade practices and “stealing American jobs.” Global trade records show that nearly 120,000 Bibles were shipped from Hangzhou, China, to the U.S. earlier this year, revealing a striking contradiction between Trump’s political stance and business dealings.
The Associated Press reviewed records showing that the estimated value of the three shipments was $342,000, meaning each Bible cost less than $3 to produce. Yet, the retail price of the Bible, which also includes U.S. founding documents, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, is sold for nearly $60, with signed copies going for $1,000. The potential sales revenue for these Bibles could reach $7 million, while Trump’s company, CIC Ventures, reportedly earned about $300,000 in royalties from the deal.
In a campaign built on protecting American manufacturing and imposing high tariffs on Chinese goods, Trump has proposed a 10% tariff on all imports and a 60% tariff on products from China. If applied to his Bibles, the retail price would rise from $59.99 to nearly $96. Trump’s campaign declined to comment on the matter.
The largest shipment of 70,000 copies arrived in the U.S. just two days after Trump announced the Bible partnership with country singer Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the USA” inspired the branding. While Trump praised the Bible as a symbol of American patriotism and Judeo-Christian values, he did not mention that the books were printed in China.
The discrepancy between Trump’s political messaging and his business ventures has raised eyebrows. Claire Finkelstein, founder of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, called the Bible sales “a profoundly problematic mixing of religion and state.” She also raised concerns about potential conflict of interest, as Trump could influence policies that benefit his businesses.
Despite Trump’s frequent criticism of China and his emphasis on American-made goods, China remains one of the world’s largest Bible producers. The Bibles were printed by New Ade Cultural Media in Hangzhou, and all shipments were imported by Freedom Park Design, a company based in Alabama. The Bibles are sold exclusively through a website unaffiliated with Trump’s campaign, although Trump’s name and image are licensed to the product.
The revelation of Trump’s China-made Bibles follows a series of for-profit ventures linked to the former president, including branded sneakers and watches. Critics argue that Trump’s business dealings undermine his political promises to prioritize American workers and industries.
Tim Wildsmith, a Baptist minister who reviews Bibles, was disappointed by the quality of the “God Bless the USA” Bible, describing it as poorly made and overpriced. “It says to me that it’s more about the love of money than it is the love of our country,” Wildsmith said.
As Trump continues his 2024 campaign, his use of Chinese manufacturing for a patriotic Bible highlights the complexities of his business and political messaging.
