Biden mocked Trump-endorsed version of Bible, not the book in general | Fact check

Nate Trela, USA TODAY
·2 min read

The claim: Biden mocked the Bible at a campaign event on April 23

An April 29 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows video of President Joe Biden at a campaign stop in Florida.

“He [Trump] described the Dobbs decision as a miracle," says Biden in the clip. "Maybe its coming from that Bible he’s trying to sell. I almost wanted to buy one to see what the hell is in it. Folks, it was no miracle.”

Part of the post's caption reads, "What do you think about the president of the United States mocking the Bible?"

The post was shared more than 70 times in five days. At least one other post shares footage of the same event and makes a similar claim.

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Our rating: False

Biden was not mocking the Bible in general. His comments were about a version of the book being promoted by former President Donald Trump that retails for a significantly higher cost than most versions of the Bible.

Trump-endorsed Bible derided at event

The post focuses on remarks Biden made April 23 in Tampa, Florida. Biden was speaking of Trump’s reaction to the Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court, which overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that established a right to have an abortion. Trump called the Dobbs ruling "a miracle."

Biden lambasted Trump's use of the word “miracle,” but his reference to the Bible was specific to one version – the “God Bless the USA” Bible that Trump is promoting. NPR previously reported that a Trump-owned limited liability company is paid for his “name, image and likeness” under a licensing deal. The $60 book, which includes copies of foundational documents for the U.S., has drawn criticism for its cost compared to standard versions of the book and the appropriateness of promoting it during Holy Week.

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Biden's comment in the video, also seen in video Biden’s campaign shared online, is presented in its full context in the Facebook post. But the caption misleads by claiming the remark was broadly about the Bible and its teachings. Biden describes himself as an observant Catholic but has taken positions at odds with church teachings at times.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the claim for context.

Snopes also debunked the claim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden quip about Bible referred to Trump-endorsed version | Fact check

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