Create account

Coverage dated January 18, 2025 to January 20, 2025

Trump did not place his hand on Bible during swearing-in at inauguration

Headline from CBS News

Images from the inauguration show President Trump did not put his hand on a Bible as he was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. It is not required in the Constitution.

CBS News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Read the reports

Reports & sources

22 articles, oldest first.

  1. Time

    Why Trump Will Be Sworn Into Office With a Bible (opens Time)

    Published

    Time's feed description

    Why U.S. presidents put a hand on the Bible when they take the oath of office on Inauguration Day.

  2. CBS News

    Trump did not place his hand on Bible during swearing-in at inauguration (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Images from the inauguration show President Trump did not put his hand on a Bible as he was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. It is not required in the Constitution.

  3. ABC 13 Houston

    Trump doesn't place hand on Bible during swearing-in (opens ABC 13 Houston)

    Published

    ABC 13 Houston's feed description

    President Donald Trump didn't place his hand on the Bible as he took the oath of office on Monday.

  4. The Hill

    Trump’s hand wasn’t on the Bible during the oath of office: What does this mean? (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    Trump was sworn in as the country's 47th president on Monday.

  5. NBC4 Washington

    Was Trump's hand on the Bible during his inaugural oath of office? What to know (opens NBC4 Washington)

    Published

    NBC4 Washington's feed description

    Did President Donald Trump have his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office? Here's what we know and what the Constitution says.

  6. Breitbart News

    Trump to Swear In with Personal Bible and Lincoln Bible During Inauguration (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Donald Trump will swear into office with two Bibles — one given to him by his mother, and one that President Abraham Lincoln used.

  7. The Christian Post

    Trump didn't place hand on Bible during second oath of office (opens The Christian Post)

    Published

    The Christian Post's feed description

    President Donald Trump did not place his hand on the two Bibles being held by his wife, Melania Trump, when he took his second oath of office.

  8. The Boston Globe

    Photos of the swearing-in show Trump with his hand at his side, not atop the Bible. Does it matter? (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    It’s traditional to use a Bible during the presidential oath of office, but it is not required. Only the oath is mandated by the Constitution.

  9. Salon

    Trump fails to place hand on Bible when being sworn into office (opens Salon)

    Published

    Salon's feed description

    While it is customary to swear by some holy text, it is not constitutionally required

  10. New York Post

    Trump did not place hand on Bible for oath of office during his inauguration (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    President Trump did not place his hand on a stack of two Bibles held by first lady Melania Trump as he was sworn into office on Monday. Instead, Trump stood...

  11. The Republic

    Trump didn’t swear on a Bible. Does it matter? (opens The Republic)

    Published

    The Republic's feed description

    Steve Padilla Los Angeles Times (TNS) Eagle-eyed watchers of President Trump’s inauguration noticed that he kept his left hand at his side and did not place it on the Bible held by First Lady Melania Trump as he took the oath of office. Did it matter? Constitutionally speaking, no.

  12. New York Times

    Trump Swears Oath Without His Hand on Bible, but He Wasn’t Required To (opens New York Times)

    Published

    New York Times's feed description

    The tradition of swearing the oath of office on a Bible stretches back to George Washington, but not all presidents have observed it.

  13. CBS News

    Trump did not put his hand on the Bible at inauguration. Here (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Images from the inauguration show President Trump did not put his hand on a Bible as he was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. It is not required in the Constitution.

  14. New Hampshire Union Leader

    Trump does not swear on Bible during inauguration, no impact on oath (opens New Hampshire Union Leader)

    Published

    New Hampshire Union Leader's feed description

    President Donald Trump took his oath of office on Monday with his right hand raised, but without placing his left hand on the two Bibles that his wife Melania held

  15. Fox News

    Trump did not place hand on Bibles during 2025 swearing in (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    President Trump did not place his hand on the Bibles being held by first lady Melania Trump when he was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Trump did not place his hand on Bible during swearing-in at inauguration | Since Then