In a historic departure from tradition, former President Donald Trump did not place his hand on the Bible during his second inauguration in January 2025. While his wife Melania held the same two Bibles as before, Trump’s hand remained at his side as he took the constitutional oath.
The tradition of hand-on-Bible dates back to the nation’s founding but is a symbolic, not legal, requirement. Legal experts note the Constitution mandates the oath but does not specify a religious text or its use.
The move prompted ridicule and criticism on social media. Some questioned the binding legitimacy of Trump’s oath, while others viewed it as merely a break from pageantry.
Historians noted previous presidents have also taken oaths without a Bible or on other religious texts, highlighting the evolving nature of American rituals.
This moment exemplifies how presidential ceremonials reflect both political and personal statements beyond their constitutional functions.
