Trump-approved Bibles meet requirements for Oklahoma schools

Oklahoma is inviting bids for Bible suppliers to provide their products to the state Department of Education — and the specific requirements match Bibles approved by former President Donald Trump.

The biblical parameters outlined in the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s request for proposals (RFP) – including the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence – correspond to the musician’s God Bless the USA Bible Lee Greenwood. The RFP requirements also state that Bibles must contain the Old and New Testaments and include copies of the U.S. Constitution.

According to Oklahoma Watch, the offer parameters effectively exclude thousands of Bibles.

The request for proposals document was first reported by Oklahoma Watch in The Oklahoman on Friday.

Greenwood is best known as the musician behind “God Bless the USA,” a song that has become a staple at Trump rallies. The Bibles sell for $60 online, and thanks to his support, the former president receives a portion of the profits, according to Oklahoma Watch.

Another Bible that meets the requirements, the We The People Bible, costs $90 each. This version was also endorsed by Trump.

Superintendent Ryan Walters’ request for proposals is part of his ongoing effort to put Bibles in every classroom. He said that “every teacher, every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom and will teach from the Bible in the classroom.”

Its budget for fiscal year 2026 called for $3 million to fund the purchase of 55,000 copies.

In a statement, Dan Isett, communications director for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, said the RFP complied with “state procurement standards.”

“Superintendent Walters has engaged the agency in an open and transparent bidding process, consistent with state procurement standards, that will be sufficient to meet the needs of Oklahoma’s classrooms “Isett said in a statement to CNN. “There are hundreds of Bible publishers and we expect strong competition for this proposition. As the tender is open and ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment while tenders are being submitted.

But the specificity of the tender process raised eyebrows. Colleen McCarty, an attorney and executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, warned in a separate statement that the overall biblical effort risks legal challenges.

“The tender seems fair at first glance, but with closer examination we can see that there are very few Bibles on the market that would meet these criteria, and all have been approved by the elder President Donald Trump,” McCarty said in a statement. “Ryan Walters continues to waste taxpayer dollars on unconstitutional efforts designed to provoke lawsuits in pursuit of his political ambitions. “It is an affront to the principles enshrined in the Constitution and is emblematic of Ryan Walters’ contempt for the rule of law.”

Walters attracted considerable attention for a state superintendent. In June, he ordered all public schools to teach both the Bible and the Ten Commandments. He opposed the teaching of LGBTQ issues in the public school system and was described by the New York Times as one of Oklahoma’s “most outspoken culture warriors.” Conservative groups like Project PAC 1776, Moms for Liberty and Americans for Prosperity have endorsed him as a candidate for the top public school job.

As a candidate, Walters focused on culture war issues that are red meat for conservatives, such as opposing the teaching of critical race theory, fighting restrictions on testing guns and opposing abortion rights. He supported Trump almost a year ago.

In an interview Friday, Alicia Andrews, chairwoman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said Walters’ moves as superintendent were aimed at attracting national attention.

“Everything he does is just clickbait,” Andrews said in an interview Friday, adding “he’s not doing it for what’s good for Oklahoma, what’s good for our students.”

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