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Trump Didn’t Appear To Put His Hand On The Bible During His Swearing-In And People Have Thoughts

Feels hypocritical, honestly

590
590 points

Historically, U.S. presidents have taken their oath of office with their hands on a Bible. It’s a tradition that shows respect and trust. However, during Donald Trump’s latest inauguration, something strange happened. People noticed he might not have touched the Bible at all!

Did he break another tradition? Well, let’s look at what happened.

When Trump was sworn in as the 47th president, he raised his right hand to take the oath. His wife, Melania, held two Bibles – the famous Lincoln Bible and one from Trump’s late mother. But as the cameras rolled, people saw something odd. Trump’s left hand wasn’t touching the Bibles. It was hovering just under them.

One Twitter user tweeted:

“The first president in over 100 years to not put his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office. Evangelicals, you’ve been duped!”

This tweet caused a lot of debate online. Below are some of the reactions:

But here’s an important question: Do you need a Bible to take the oath?

Surprisingly, the answer is no. You don’t need a Bible to become president. The U.S. Constitution only says the president must recite the oath of office. It doesn’t require using a Bible or any religious text.

Some past presidents didn’t use a Bible when taking the oath of office. For example, John Quincy Adams in 1825 swore on a law book instead of a Bible. Theodore Roosevelt, when sworn in after President McKinley’s assassination in 1901, skipped using any book entirely. Lyndon B. Johnson, after the tragic death of JFK in 1963, used a Catholic prayer book aboard Air Force One. While using a Bible has become a long-standing tradition, it is not legally required for a president to take the oath of office.

Even though it’s not a rule, using a Bible holds symbolic meaning, especially for someone like Trump, who claims to represent Christian values. Trump has always said he has strong support from evangelical Christians, so moments like this can feel hypocritical. In 2020, Trump held a Bible for a photo outside a church after police cleared protesters from the area. Critics called it a fake gesture to win favor with religious voters.

Trump’s Bible moment reminds people of other controversial oaths. In 2009, when Barack Obama first took the oath, Chief Justice John Roberts made a mistake with the words. To be safe, Obama retook the oath the next day. Trump’s 2017 inauguration was also criticized when he exaggerated the size of his crowd. In 2025, Trump’s Bible “fumble” is another unusual moment added to his record.

Featured image via Screengrab

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Terry Lawson

Posted by

I’m Terry Lawson, a writer and editor based in Alabama with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. For the past four years, I’ve worked as a ghostwriter for various companies, delivering content that meets clients' needs. I currently work as an editor and political writer for Political Tribune, creating engaging articles. I enjoy writing and have developed strong skills in writing & editing, critical thinking, and project management. My work is fueled by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to quality.

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