New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has a message for President Donald Trump.
During his press conference on Wednesday, the New York governor said, while holding up a Bible, “The president held up the Bible the other day in Washington, D.C. Here in New York, we actually read the Bible.”
He then read out verses that “are especially appropriate for today in this time of where we are,” as he said, including Matthew 5:9, which reads, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
He also read Mark 3:25, “If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Additionally, he read Psalms 34:14, “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it” and then James 3:18, “The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
See Cuomo’s comments below:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo: "The President held up the Bible the other day in Washington D.C. Here in New York, we actually READ the Bible." pic.twitter.com/CY5m8jMxKj
— The Hill (@thehill) June 3, 2020
Cuomo’s comments come after Trump was seen standing outside the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church on Monday evening, where he held up a Bible. The church was set on fire as protests continue to erupt across the nation over George Floyd’s death.
MOMENTS AGO: President Trump stands in front of St. John's Church holding a Bible.
— The Hill (@thehill) June 1, 2020
Trump: "We have a great country. That's my thoughts. Greatest country in the world… It's coming back. It's coming back strong." pic.twitter.com/SeDH3pX7AV
Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde said that she had “no idea” Trump would be coming to the church and expressed her disapproval of his appearance there.
“I am outraged,” Budde told CNN.
She continued:
“The president did not pray when he came to St John’s nor, as you just articulated, did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now — in particular, that of the people of color in our nation who wonder if anyone ever–anyone in public power will ever acknowledge their sacred worth and who are rightfully demanding an end to 400 years of systemic racism and white supremacy in our country. …. We distance ourselves from the incendiary language of this President.”
Trump also received criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who held up a Bible when speaking to reporters on Tuesday and said, “Last night when I saw the president hold up the Bible, I was thinking of so many things in the Bible that would have been appropriate in terms of the humanity of all people in country.”
She also called on Trump to be the “healer-in-chief and not a fanner of the flame.”
Many have called the president’s appearance a “photo op,” which Pelosi touched on again on Wednesday when she told MSNBC, “It shows the contradiction and the inconsistency. If you’re going to hold up a Bible and stand in front of a church, your message should be consistent with that Bible and those values.”