During his inauguration, U.S. President Donald Trump did not place his hand on a Bible while taking the oath of office, though First Lady Melania Trump held two Bibles—his personal one and the historic Lincoln Bible.
Donald Trump, sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, took the oath of office without placing his hand on a Bible, according to ABC News. Instead, he raised his right hand as Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath. Melania Trump stood beside him, holding both his personal Bible, a gift from his mother, and the Lincoln Bible, famously used by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861.
According to the U.S. Constitution, there is no legal requirement for a president to place a hand on a Bible while taking the oath. Article VI, Section 3 states that officials must take an “oath or solemn declaration” to support the Constitution but explicitly prohibits any religious test for public office.
ABC News noted that during his first inauguration on January 20, 2017, Trump did place his hand on two Bibles held by the First Lady while taking the oath as the 45th president. His decision to forgo this tradition during his latest inauguration marks a departure from precedent.
In his inaugural speech, Trump thanked the audience and declared the start of a “golden age” for America.
