President Trump bucked custom on Monday when he didn’t place his hand on the Bible whereas taking the oath of workplace throughout his second inauguration.
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath, telling Trump, who was strolling towards him, to boost his proper hand and repeat the phrases he was about to say.
Trump then raised his proper hand, and as Roberts mentioned, “I, Donald John Trump,” first woman Melania Trump was seen approaching with a stack of Bibles.
Somewhat than place his left hand on the Bibles, he stored his hand by his aspect and continued to take the oath of workplace as his household filed in behind him.
TRUMP TO DEPLOY MILITARY TO BORDER, END BIDEN PAROLE POLICIES IN FLURRY OF DAY ONE EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Donald Trump is sworn in because the forty seventh President of america by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bibles through the sixtieth Presidential Inauguration within the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Morry Gash/AP Picture, Pool)
Melania Trump held two Bibles — one was the Lincoln Bible and the opposite was her husband’s private Bible that was given to him by his mom when he was a baby. Trump did place his hand on each these Bibles when he took the oath of workplace in 2017.
Vice President JD Vance did place his hand on the Bible whereas he was sworn in.
Some individuals on social media say Roberts rushed the oath, whereas others seemed to be in disbelief that Trump didn’t place his hand on the Bibles, which is a convention relationship again to the very first inauguration of President George Washington.
TRUMP TO TAKE MORE THAN 200 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON DAY ONE
Donald Trump didn’t place his hand on the Bibles whereas he took the oath of workplace to change into the forty seventh President of america. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture)
Whereas it’s conventional for the incoming president to put a hand on the Bible whereas taking the oath of workplace, there may be nothing within the U.S. Structure that requires them to take action.
The truth is, presidents “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation,” based on Article VI of the Structure. The identical article states, “…no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
Article II of the Structure additionally says the president should take the oath earlier than getting into workplace, although there is no such thing as a point out of faith.
DONALD TRUMP SWORN IN AS 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
President Donald Trump takes the oath of workplace from Supreme Court docket Chief Justice John Roberts in 2017. (Joe Raedle)
The Structure lays out the precise language for use within the 34-word oath of workplace: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Many judges have tacked on 4 little phrases, “so help me God.” It isn’t legally or constitutionally required, in contrast to different federal oaths that invoke the phrases as commonplace process. Historians have been at odds over whether or not President Washington established precedent by including the phrase on his personal throughout his first acceptance, however up to date accounts point out no such ad-libbing.
Abraham Lincoln was reported to have mentioned it spontaneously in 1861, and different presidents through the years have adopted go well with. A Bible is historically used, with the president inserting one hand on it whereas elevating the opposite through the oath of workplace.
The Structure additionally doesn’t require the president or members of Congress or federal judges to be sworn in by a Supreme Court docket justice, although they simply have for inaugurations, more often than not.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
When Washington took the primary oath of workplace in 1789, the Supreme Court docket had not but been fashioned, so New York’s highest-ranking decide did the honors at Federal Corridor on Wall Avenue.
4 years later, Affiliate Justice William Cushing swore in Washington for a second time period, starting the Supreme Court docket custom.
