At his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump’s oath of office sparked curiosity when some noticed he didn’t place his hand on a Bible.

This raised questions about the role of the Bible in presidential ceremonies and its traditional significance.

While it’s customary for U.S. presidents to place their hand on a Bible during the oath, this gesture is not a legal requirement.

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution mandates that all officers must take an oath or affirmation to uphold the Constitution but prohibits any religious test as a qualification for office.

First Lady Melania Trump held two Bibles during the ceremony:

the Lincoln Bible, used at Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration, and a family Bible Trump received from his mother in 1955 to mark his Sunday Church Primary School graduation.

However, as Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts began the proceedings, Melania Trump was still approaching with the Bibles.

By the time she stood beside her husband, Trump had already raised his right hand and was reciting the oath, leaving his left hand by his side.

This departure from tradition didn’t deter the president from invoking faith during his inaugural address.

Referring to the assassination attempt he survived in the summer, Trump declared, “I was saved by God to make America great again.”

Vice President JD Vance adhered to tradition, placing his hand on a family Bible that belonged to his great-grandmother while taking his oath.

His wife, Usha Vance, held the Bible as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh administered the oath.

Interestingly, Trump had followed tradition during his first inauguration in 2017, placing his hand on both the Lincoln Bible and his family Bible.

The decision to forgo this practice during his 2025 oath remains unexplained.

Notably, Trump has his own line of “God Bless the USA” Bibles, sold for $59.99, adding another layer to the conversation about his faith and public persona.