Trump Takes Oath Without Hand on Bible, No Legal Requirement Says Constitution

Jan 20, 2025, 10:15 PM

During his inauguration on Monday, President Donald Trump did not place his hand on the Bible as he took the oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. First Lady Melania Trump held two Bibles during the ceremony, one given to Trump by his mother and the Lincoln Bible, which was used at Abraham Lincoln's 1861 inauguration. Despite the tradition of placing a hand on the Bible, there is no legal requirement for the president to do so, as stated in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits any religious test as a qualification for office. Trump's action sparked curiosity and discussion on social media, but it had no practical impact on the validity of his oath.