What's Behind Oklahoma's Obsession with the Trump Bible?

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters just announced that over 500 Bibles were purchased for Oklahoma public schools, supposedly to be used in Advanced Placement (AP) government classrooms. At first glance, it might seem like a push for patriotism and education—but let’s look a little closer.

The Bibles chosen are the “God Bless the U.S.A.” edition, a version exclusively endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump. These Bibles are sold online starting at $60 each, and $25,000 in public funds was spent on them. Walters has even floated plans to spend up to $6 million to put Bibles in every classroom statewide.

Here’s the thing: it doesn’t feel like this is really about education. Instead, it seems like a calculated move to drive up profits for a Trump-backed product while Walters positions himself as a loyal ally to the president-elect. Let’s not forget that Walters has been making the rounds on national media, tagging Trump in multiple social media posts, and talking about aligning Oklahoma schools with Trump’s education agenda.

This feels less like a plan to support students and more like an effort to benefit Trump and boost Walters’ national profile.