By Aliza Chasan
Updated on: January 20, 2025 / 5:01 PM EST / CBS News
Some onlookers observed that President Donald Trump didn’t place his hand on the Bible when sworn in at his inauguration, prompting questions about how the Bible traditionally factors into the ceremony.
While it is common for incoming presidents to place their hand on a Bible while taking the oath of office, it’s not a legal requirement.
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states that “all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
First lady Melania Trump held two Bibles — one given to Mr. Trump by his mother when he was a child, and the Lincoln Bible, which was used at Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration.
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds two Bibles at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025. MORRY GASH/AFP via Getty Images
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts directed Mr. Trump to raise his right hand and repeat after him as Mrs. Trump was still approaching with the Bibles. Mrs. Trump arrived next to her husband a moment later, before he began reciting the oath of office.
Mr. Trump’s right hand was raised while his left arm stayed by his side as he was sworn in.
Mr. Trump did reference God during his first remarks as the 47th president.
“I was saved by God to make America great again,” he said in his inaugural address, referencing the assassination attempt on his life over the summer.
Vice President JD Vance placed his hand on a Bible when he took the oath of office on Monday. He used a family Bible that belonged to his maternal great-grandmother, according to Trump’s inaugural committee. Vance was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. His wife, Usha Vance, held the Bible as Vance took his oath of office.
At his first inauguration in 2017, Mr. Trump did place his hand on the two Bibles — the family Bible and the Lincoln Bible — when he took the oath of office. Mr. Trump received the family Bible in 1955 to to mark his Sunday Church Primary School graduation at First Presbyterian Church, in Jamaica, Queens, according to Trump’s inaugural committee.
President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as first lady Melania Trump, looks on during the 58th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2017. Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
It was not immediately clear why Mr. Trump made his oath of office on Monday without his hand on the Bible. The president notably also has his own “God Bless the USA” Bibles — sold for $59.99 each.
Aliza ChasanAliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for “60 Minutes” and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.
