Trump Didn’t Place His Hand On The Bible During Swearing-In: What Does This Mean?
on Jan 21, 2025
During Donald Trump’s Inauguration Ceremony, Mainstream Media Quickly Noticed That He Did Not Place His Hand On The Bible While Being Sworn In
On Monday, January 20, Donald Trump was officially sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. But, unlike many past presidents, he did not place his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office.
Instead, he raised his right hand while his left remained at his side. First Lady Melania Trump held two Bibles near him.
After reports surfaced, many people questioned why this happened and whether it affected the validity of his swearing-in under the Constitution. It turns out that placing a hand on the Bible is not a requirement for any president-elect.
What The Constitution Says
Placing a hand on the Bible during the presidential oath is a tradition that dates back to George Washington’s first inauguration. Legally, though, it remains just that— a tradition.
According to the U.S. Constitution, the only requirement is that the president takes the oath of office.
Everything else is a personal choice and doesn’t have to involve placing a hand on any text or religious book. As the New York Times pointed out, past presidents have taken different approaches. For example, John Quincy Adams used a book of law and Lyndon B. Johnson placed his hand on a Catholic missal aboard Air Force One after John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
RELATED: SECOND LADY USHA VANCE BEAMS WITH PRIDE AS JD VANCE IS SWORN IN AS VICE PRESIDENT
It turns out Trump isn’t the only president who didn’t place his hand on anything. In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt also chose not to use a Bible when he was sworn in following William McKinley’s assassination.
Why Did President Trump Not Put His Hand On The Bible?
The White House or the Trump Administration has not officially explained why President Trump didn’t place his hand on the Bible during the swearing-in. However, many people did notice that the entire ceremony seemed rushed, leading to the speculation that under pressure he did not remember to, or government officials around him didn’t advise him to do so. Viewers also noticed that First Lady Melania was not in place with the Bibles when her husband’s oath began, which led many to say that the ceremony started before everyone was ready.
Leading up to it, the inauguration day wasn’t as smooth sailing as it was hoped to be. Just a day before the event, it was decided to move the ceremony indoors because of the freezing temperatures in Washington D.C. This also changed the presidential parade, moving it from the streets to Capital One Arena.
There were also some last-minute schedule changes. For example, Carrie Underwood was supposed to sing “America The Beautiful” after Vice President JD Vance’s swearing-in and before Trump’s, but her performance was moved to the end of the ceremony. She also faced technical issues, so she ended up singing an impromptu a cappella version instead.
