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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Raised Eyebrows as Trump Skips Placing Hand on Bible While Reciting Oath of Office 

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WASHINGTON, USA — Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony on Monday, January 20, 2025 took an unusual turn when the former president appeared to bypass a long-standing tradition involving the Holy Bible.

As he recited the presidential oath, Trump did not place his hand on a Bible, a symbolic gesture observed by many of his predecessors.

First Lady Melania Trump carried two significant Bibles for the ceremony: a personal gift from Trump’s mother in 1955, marking his completion of Sunday Church Primary School in New York, and the historic Lincoln Bible, famously used during Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration and subsequently at Barack Obama’s and Trump’s 2017 ceremonies.

Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath, while Melania stood beside Trump holding the Bibles. Trump recited the traditional words:

“I swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”

However, Trump’s decision not to rest his hand on the Bibles during the oath drew immediate attention.

While the U.S. Constitution does not require the use of a Bible, the tradition dates back to George Washington’s first inauguration.

Only a few presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1901, have skipped the practice.

Joe Biden
Joe Biden, the new president of the United States, with his wife Jill Biden at his swearing-in. At 78, Biden is the oldest president ever to take the oath of office. | Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Mixed Reactions

Critics of Trump seized the moment to mock the apparent break with tradition.

Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko quipped, “No hand on the Bible. Does that mean he is not president?”

The Lincoln Project, a prominent anti-Trump organisation, tweeted, “He didn’t put his small hand on the Bible when he took the oath of office.”

Podcaster Tim Miller added, “No hand on the Bible. Perfect.”

Supporters, meanwhile, dismissed the controversy, pointing out that the use of a Bible is purely ceremonial.

Constitutional experts confirmed that the oath’s validity lies in its recitation, not in accompanying gestures or props.

Barack Obama is sworn as president of the United States in January 2009. | Getty Images
Barack Obama is sworn as president of the United States in January 2009. | Getty Images

The Lincoln Bible

One of the Bibles present during the ceremony, the Lincoln Bible, holds immense historical significance.

Bound in burgundy velvet and preserved at the Library of Congress, it has become a symbol of continuity in U.S. inaugurations.

Its occasional use underscores its importance in American political history, including its role in Barack Obama’s landmark inaugurations.

Bible
U.S. President Barack Obama recites his oath of office as first lady Michelle Obama looks on during swearing-in ceremonies on the West front of the U.S Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 21, 2013. | Reuters

A Gesture Open to Interpretation

Whether Trump’s omission was intentional or a mere oversight remains unclear. The moment has nonetheless added a layer of intrigue to the start of his second term.

Political analyst Sarah Kendrick commented, “It’s a small detail, but one that reflects how symbolism is scrutinised in American politics. The president’s every move is magnified, especially in highly ceremonial settings.”

As Trump embarks on his new term, this minor controversy serves as a reminder of how even the smallest deviations from tradition can spark debate in a politically divided nation.

Bible
Bill Clinton, standing between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, takes the oath of office of President of the United States on Jan. 20, 1993. | Library of Congress
Photo taken at the second inauguration of Bill Clinton as president of the United States was held on Monday, January 20, 1997, at the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. | Tim Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Photo taken at the second inauguration of Bill Clinton as president of the United States was held on Monday, January 20, 1997, at the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. | Tim Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Bible
American politician George H.W. Bush takes the oath of office as he is sworn in as 41st President of the United States by Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the US Capitol in 1989. | Getty Images

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