Trump Sworn in as 47th President Amid Inauguration Day Controversy

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States during an inaugural ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday. The ceremony, slightly delayed, saw Trump taking the oath of office, raising his right hand while his left hovered near two Bibles—one belonging to his mother and the other being the historic Lincoln Bible.

Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath, prompting Trump to recite, “I do solemnly swear 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.”

However, confusion arose when Trump began the oath before Melania Trump raised the Bibles, leaving it unclear whether he touched them during the ceremony. Despite this, Trump does not need to retake the oath, as the U.S. Constitution does not require the use of a Bible or any religious text.

Historically, several presidents have taken the oath without a Bible, including John Quincy Adams, who used a law book, and Theodore Roosevelt, who used no book. The use of the Lincoln Bible at inaugurations dates back to Abraham Lincoln’s first term in 1861.

Trump’s personal Bible, given to him by his mother before his ninth birthday, was paired with the Lincoln Bible during the ceremony. This echoed Barack Obama’s use of the Lincoln Bible in 2009 and again in 2014, alongside a Bible belonging to Martin Luther King Jr.

The ceremony marked the beginning of Trump’s second term, with the formalities surrounding the oath sparking discussions but not affecting the legitimacy of his presidency.