Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025 was full of spectacle, but a detail many missed at the time is now sparking a vibrant conversation online. Traditionally, U.S. presidents place their hand on the Bible as they take the oath of office—a practice dating back to George Washington—but Trump skipped this symbolic gesture during his second swearing-in.
While raising his right hand to solemnly swear to protect and defend the Constitution, Trump’s left hand did not rest on the two Bibles his wife Melania carried: one given to him by his mother and Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration Bible from 1861. This was unlike his first inauguration in 2017, when he touched the Bibles.
The hand-on-Bible tradition represents accountability and faith but is not mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Some saw Trump’s decision as breaking with longstanding decorum, prompting jokes and criticism on social media. Comments ranged from sarcastic disbelief to questioning whether the oath was valid without the Bible touch.
Historians and constitutional scholars, however, affirm that physically touching the Bible is not legally required. The oath is a commitment to the Constitution itself, and presidents may even choose to swear without any religious text.
While Trump did not perform the Bible-touching gesture this time, the constitutionality and legitimacy of his oath remain intact, though the moment offers an insightful glimpse into how traditions can shape public perceptions of presidential conduct.
