Trump Takes Oath Without Bible, Becoming First in Over a Century to Do So

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U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to forgo placing his hand on a Bible during his second inauguration on January 20 has stirred debate across the nation.

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As the 45th president was sworn in, he raised his right hand to take the oath of office, but his left hand remained at his side, not on the Bible his wife, Melania, held beside him.

This moment stood in sharp contrast to his first inauguration in 2017, where Trump had placed his right hand on two Bibles while being sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The unusual choice quickly became a topic of conversation online. By mid-afternoon, it was the top-searched question about Trump on Google, as Americans wondered why he chose not to adhere to this long-standing tradition.

Trump Takes Oath Without Bible, Becoming First in Over a Century to Do So

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Though Trump’s decision is rare, he is not the first president to skip the Bible during the oath. Historically, only a handful of presidents have taken office without using a religious text.

Notably, John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, opted for a law book in 1825. Later, President Theodore Roosevelt followed suit in 1901, skipping the Bible following the assassination of President William McKinley.

Trump’s decision marks the first time in more than a century that a U.S. president has taken the oath of office without a Bible.

In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson, sworn in aboard Air Force One after JFK’s assassination, used a Catholic missal instead.

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