You’ve probably seen the photos. In one, he’s got his hand on a stack of books. In another—from just a year ago in 2025—he’s standing there with his right hand up, but his left hand is just hanging by his side. It’s confusing. People on social media still argue about it. Did Trump swear in on the Bible or didn’t he? Honestly, the answer depends entirely on which inauguration you are talking about.
Politics is rarely simple. In 2017, it was a very traditional scene. He used two Bibles and definitely put his hand on them. But fast forward to January 20, 2025, and things got weird. If you watched the 60th Presidential Inauguration, you might have noticed a moment of pure ceremonial chaos. Melania Trump was holding two Bibles—the family one and the historic Lincoln Bible—but Donald Trump never actually touched them while reciting the oath.
The 2017 Ceremony: Two Bibles and a Very Big Stack
Back in 2017, for his first term, Trump followed the classic presidential playbook. He didn’t just use one book; he used two. This isn’t actually that rare. Truman did it. Eisenhower did it. Even Obama used two.
The first was a personal one. It was his childhood Bible, given to him by his mother, Mary Anne Trump, in 1955. It was a Revised Standard Version. He’d graduated from Sunday Church Primary School at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, and this was his gift. It even had his name embossed on the cover.
The second was the Lincoln Bible. This thing is a piece of American history. It’s a small, burgundy velvet-bound book from 1861. Abraham Lincoln used it because his own family Bible was still packed away in a trunk when he got to D.C. It’s now kept at the Library of Congress. By using it, Trump was signaling a connection to the "Great Emancipator."
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Did Trump Swear In On The Bible in 2025?
Now, this is where the "Mandela Effect" or just general confusion starts for most people. During the 2025 inauguration, the Bibles were there. Melania was holding them. But the hand-to-paper contact never happened.
Why? It wasn't a protest. It wasn't some hidden message. According to people like Franklin Graham, who was close to the event, it was basically just a timing issue. Chief Justice John Roberts started the oath a little early. Melania was still walking up. By the time she was in position, Trump had already started the 35-word oath. He kept his right hand raised and his left hand down.
"Justice Kavanaugh started administering the oath before Melania even got up there with the Bibles," Franklin Graham later explained. "It was just an awkward situation, but it wasn't intentional."
So, technically, in 2025, the answer to did trump swear in on the bible is: No, not physically. He swore the oath in the presence of the Bibles, but without his hand on them.
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Does it even matter legally?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: The Constitution of the United States is surprisingly chill about how you take the oath. Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 gives the exact words you have to say. It doesn't mention Bibles. It doesn't mention God. It doesn't even say you have to have a hand in the air.
- Theodore Roosevelt didn't use a Bible in 1901. He was sworn in at a friend's house after McKinley was assassinated. Things were rushed.
- John Quincy Adams swore on a book of law. He wanted to show his duty was to the Constitution, not a specific religion.
- Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Catholic Missal found on Air Force One after JFK died.
The Bible is a tradition, not a law. The "religious test" clause in Article VI actually forbids the government from requiring a specific religious act to hold office. You could swear in on a cookbook or a stack of comic books if you really wanted to, as long as you say the words.
The Symbolism of the Books
Even though it’s just a tradition, the choice of book says a lot about a President’s "brand."
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When Trump chose the Lincoln Bible again for 2025, he was doubling down on that 2017 imagery. He wanted that link to Lincoln’s era of "binding up the nation’s wounds," even if the 2025 ceremony felt a bit more frantic. His mother’s Bible represented his roots in Queens and his personal history.
What to remember about the tradition
If you're trying to win a trivia night or just settle an argument, here is the breakdown:
- 2017: Yes, he used his childhood Bible and the Lincoln Bible. Hand was firmly on the stack.
- 2025: No, he did not physically touch them during the oath due to a ceremonial delay, though they were present.
- The Law: No Bible is required by the Constitution.
- The Words: The only thing that makes someone President is saying the 35 words specified in the Constitution.
It’s easy to get caught up in the optics. We live in a world of screenshots and 10-second clips. A photo of Trump in 2025 with his hand by his side looks "wrong" to some people because we’ve been conditioned since George Washington to expect a Bible. But history shows us that the ceremony is often messy, human, and full of mistakes.
Actionable Insight: If you’re researching presidential history, don't just look at the photos. Check the Congressional Record or the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). They track which books were used and which verses were chosen. If you ever find yourself in D.C., you can actually see the Lincoln Bible at the Library of Congress—it's much smaller than it looks on TV.
Next time someone asks did trump swear in on the bible, tell them it depends on the year. In 2017, he did. In 2025, he missed the mark by about three seconds. Either way, the oath counted.