Donald Trump Did Not Place Hand on a Bible as He Took Oath of Office: Photos
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, Jan. 20, taking the presidential oath without placing his hand on the Bibles Melania held beside him
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When Donald Trump took the oath of office, there was one thing out of place: his left hand.
During his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, Trump, 78, did not place his hand on a Bible while taking the presidential oath.
First lady Melania Trump stood beside him during the oath, holding two Bibles: Trump's personal Bible, a gift for his Sunday school graduation in the 1950s, and the Lincoln Bible, which President Abraham Lincoln used when he was sworn in in 1861.
As Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath, however, Trump raised his right hand but chose not to place his left hand on either Bible. Roberts began the process while Melania was still finalizing her position, which may have disrupted the ceremonious act.
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President Donald Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20 without placing his hand on a BibleWhile it is customary for presidents and vice presidents to place their hands on a Bible during the oath of office, it is not required by the U.S. Constitution.
According to Article VI, Clause 3 of the Constitution, members of Congress, state legislatures and executive and judicial officers must take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution.
However, it also asserts that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States," meaning that the use of a Bible is a tradition, not a constitutional mandate.
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Though Trump did not place his hand on the Bible, Vice President J.D. Vance adhered to tradition. Vance, 40, who was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, placed his right hand on the Bible held by his wife, Usha Vance.
When Trump was sworn in for his first presidency in 2017, he placed his hand on the two Bibles held by his wife, as Roberts similarly administered the oath.
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After being sworn in as the 47th president in the U.S. Capitol rotunda on Monday, Trump delivered a speech that lasted more than 30 minutes, outlining his goals for Day One and criticizing the work done by the Biden administration, promising to correct what he viewed as its failures.
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“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad,” Trump said in his speech. “All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly.”
He added, “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.”
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