It will go down as one of the most infamous images of Donald Trump’s presidency, the moment he walked across the street from the White House to hold up a bible in front of St. John’s church. Now there is new reporting that the move was inspired by his daughter. The New York Times Maggie Haberman reports:
After the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, raised the idea of visiting the church in an email to staff members, Mr. Trump’s adviser, Hope Hicks, recommended he bring a Bible, and aides were told to secure a “pretty Bible,” according to people familiar with the episode. Ms. Hicks told associates the idea was for Mr. Trump to read scripture from the book, which he has previously claimed was his favorite, despite his apparent unfamiliarity with religious rituals.
Instead, Mr. Trump stood awkwardly in front of the church, before he held the Bible aloft near his right ear and posed for cameras.
This was included as part of Haberman’s report titled, “Trump Promotes Caricature of What Conservatives Want.” The reporter writes:
A series of events during his White House tenure has made clear that Mr. Trump views the voters he calls “my people” through the lens of what he imagines they like.