State superintendent snaps back after plans to store Bibles in ALL school classrooms were hit with bizarre claim

The head of Oklahoma’s public schools is not happy with claims that only Bibles approved by Donald Trump meet the criteria for his mandate of the Good Book in every classroom.

Republican Superintendent Ryan Walters wants to purchase 55,000 Bibles for public schools, specifying that each copy contain the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

The nonprofit news outlet Oklahoma Watch first reported that the requirements align with the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which Trump urged his supporters to start buying earlier this year on a website that sells the book for $59.99 sells.

A spokesman for Walters denied any direct link after saying that “it would be inappropriate to comment while bids are being placed” on the Bible offering, but promised a large number of bidders.

“We are excited to bring the Bible back to Oklahoma classrooms in its essential historical and literary context,” Dan Isett added in a statement.

The nonprofit news outlet Oklahoma Watch first reported Thursday that the requirements align with the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which Trump urged his supporters to start buying earlier this year on a website that sells the book for $59.99 sells.

“Superintendent Walters has committed the agency to an open and transparent RFP process, consistent with state procurement standards, that will be sufficient to meet the needs of Oklahoma classrooms.”

“There are hundreds of Bible publishers and we expect stiff competition for this proposal.”

The request is part of Walters’ ongoing effort to require Bibles in every classroom, which has met resistance from some of Oklahoma’s largest school districts.

Walters is seeking to spend $3 million in state funds for Bibles that meet certain criteria, including that the pages must be supplemented with American historical material.

The Bibles must also be “bound in leather or leather-like material for durability,” according to state procurement documents posted this week.

Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, a Democrat, said the bid “doesn’t pass the smell test” and said a court could invalidate it if the process is found to limit competition.

“All fingers point to the Trump Bible that contains all these requirements,” Edmondson said.

Walters initially issued the order in June, hoping to have the mandate go into effect by the new school year.

Trump started selling the Bibles earlier this year before Easter with the slogan: “Make America Pray Again!”

“Effective immediately, all schools in Oklahoma are required to include the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, as an educational support in the curriculum for specific grade levels, such as grades 5 through 12,” Walters said.

Compliance with the mandate is mandatory and “immediate and strict compliance is expected.”

“The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,” Walters said. “Without a basic understanding of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundations of our nation, which is why Oklahoma education standards provide for its teaching.”

The bidding documents also specify that the Bibles include both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Bill of Rights.

“We can see that there are very few Bibles on the market that meet these criteria, and all of them were endorsed by former President Donald Trump,” said Colleen McCarty, executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.

The name of the Bible, endorsed by Trump, is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad.

Greenwood offers the Bibles for sale through a website, GodBlessTheUSABible.com.

The website shows a photo of Trump and Greenwood together in the Oval Office.

Trump takes the stage at each of his rallies and has appeared at events with Greenwood.

Donald Trump with country singer Lee Greenwood in November 2018 – Greenwood’s song God Bless the USA is Trump’s walk-on music for his political rally

‘Happy Holy Week! Let’s make America pray again. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to purchase a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” Trump said in a video on Truth Social announcing his new venture.

“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have a lot of them. It’s my favorite book. It is many people’s favorite book,” he adds.

The Bible’s website states that the product is “not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”

It says the site “uses the name, likeness and image of Donald J. Trump under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC.”

Trump reported making $300,000 from Bible sales, according to financial disclosures released in August.

Walters, himself a former public school teacher who was elected to his post in 2022, ran on a platform of fighting “woke ideology,” banning books from school libraries and getting rid of “radical leftists” who he says indoctrinate children into classrooms.