Trump does not place his hand on Bible during inauguration oath

In a departure from tradition, President Donald Trump did not place his hand on the Bible when taking the oath of office during his inauguration on Monday.

As Trump stood before Chief Justice John Roberts to take the presidential oath, First Lady Melania Trump stood by his side, holding two Bibles. However, the 47th president of the United States did not rest his hand on either Bible as he raised his right hand to swear the oath.

One of the Bibles Melania Trump held was a personal Bible belonging to her husband, given to him by his mother. The other was the Lincoln Bible, famously used by President Abraham Lincoln during his inaugural ceremony in 1861.

While it is customary for presidents to place their hands on the Bible during the oath, there is no legal requirement for them to do so. The U.S. Constitution’s Article VI, Clause 3, which governs oaths of office, mandates that elected officials, including the president, take an oath to support the Constitution but does not specify that a Bible must be used.