Curious about the President’s oath? It turns out placing a hand on the Bible isn’t a must, and here’s why.
Washington D.C.: So, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President on January 20, 2025. But guess what? He didn’t put his hand on the Bible this time, which raised a few eyebrows.
Instead, he just raised his right hand while his left arm stayed down. Chief Justice John Roberts was there, and it was a bit of a surprise for everyone watching.
Now, Melania Trump was right there holding not one, but two Bibles. One was a special gift from his mom, and the other was the famous Lincoln Bible. So, the Bible was still part of the ceremony, just not in the usual way.
People are wondering if Trump forgot to put his hand on the Bible or if he just chose not to. He did it back in 2017, so it’s a bit puzzling.
But here’s the kicker: there’s no law saying a President has to use a Bible at all. The Constitution just says they need to take an oath. It’s been a tradition since George Washington, but it’s not a hard rule.
Some past Presidents have done their own thing too. For example, John Quincy Adams used a legal book in 1825, and Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use anything at all in 1901. So, it’s not as strict as it seems!
