Donald Trump's recent inauguration featured a break from tradition when he raised his right hand to take the oath of office without placing the other on a Bible held by his wife. While traditionally presidents have followed the practice established by George Washington, the Constitution does not mandate such a gesture. Notably, only a few presidents, like John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt, have altered this custom, raising questions about the significance of ritual and personal beliefs in presidential transitions.
The longstanding tradition of taking the presidential oath with one hand on a Bible stretches back to George Washington and was observed by Mr. Trump in 2017. But doing so is not a requirement.
The Constitution requires simply that the president take the oath before assuming the office. It does not require a Bible, or any religious text.
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