FLOP No. 15 – Bible Photo Op at St. John’s Church (2020)

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The Promise: A solemn gesture after protests rocked Washington, D.C.—a presidential walk to a historic church with a symbolic Bible in hand.

What Happened: Protesters were cleared with force to make way for the photo. The Bible was held upside down. The moment, meant to signal strength, backfired immediately.

What Failed: The visual felt forced. The clearance tactics overshadowed the gesture. No one bought the symbolism.

What We Learned: If the setup feels staged, the audience will reject the performance.

What an Event Pro Would’ve Advised: Let the moment unfold naturally. Choose substance over symbolism. Respect the audience’s intelligence.