The Oklahoma Superintendent is moving forward with plans to put Bibles in every state classroom with a proposal that could potentially dedicate millions of taxpayer dollars toward the purchase of expensive Trump-endorsed Bibles.
In a 2026 budget request last week, Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters' asked the state for $3 million additional dollars from taxpayers to spend on Bibles for classrooms. By Monday, supplier bids opened on a contract for 55,000 Bibles that meet a very specific set of standards outlined in the bid documents.
Eligible Bibles must meet the following criteria:
- Only the King James Version Bible with both Old and New Testaments.
- The addition of historical United States documents including the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and U.S. Bill of Rights.
- The exclusion of any "study guides, publisher narration, or additional commentary."
- "Leather or leather-like material for durability."
A salesperson at a Christian educational texts company reviewed their selection of 2,900 Bibles, and none met the bid's requirements, according to The Oklahoman.
Two Bibles that do fit the requirements are Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A Bible, which is endorsed by former President Donald Trump - who receives royalties with each purchase - and We The People Bible, endorsed by Donald Trump Jr.
The texts retail for $60 and $90, respectively.
Concerns have been raised about the legality and potential motivations of Walters' proposal, which could violate state law if it were tailor-made for Trump, according to Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson.
"It appears to me that this bid is anything but competitive," he told The Oklahoman. "It adds to the basic specification other requirements that have nothing to do with the text. The special binding and inclusion of government documents will exclude almost all bidders. If the bid specs exclude most bidders unnecessarily, I could consider that a violation."
Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Alicia Andrews believes the bid, which stands to financially benefit Trump who received $300,000 in royalties from God Bless the U.S.A. Bible sales per financial disclosure forms, is politically motivated.
"...To specifically identify this Bible, this document that the state taxpayers would spend money on, either is a dereliction of duty, a dereliction of stewardship or maybe it is a ... signal to former President Trump: 'Hey, hey, I'm on your team, sir,'" Andrews told The Oklahoman.
The fast-tracked bidding process is set for two weeks, which is half the usual recommendation of four weeks set by The Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
Walters' funding request will require approval from the Oklahoma Legislature. Depending on legislative support, the sum could be debated or modified before moving forward.
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