Donald Trump inauguration gaffe sees President recite oath without putting his hand on Bible

Donald Trump took the oath of bureau to go the 47th president of the United States astatine the inauguration, but did not enactment his manus connected a Bible, arsenic is tradition

President Donald Trump gaffed successful beforehand of millions of radical arsenic helium took the oath of office without placing his manus connected the book arsenic planned.

The caller president's inaugural committee announced connected Friday helium would usage the aforesaid beatified books helium utilized successful January 2017, including 1 Abraham Lincoln enactment his manus connected successful 1861, and different fixed to him by his parent successful 1955. The US constitution does not necessitate a Bible for oath of office, but the contented began backmost successful 1789 erstwhile George Washington borrowed 1 from a Masonic Lodge successful New York City.

Trump did not spot his manus connected a stack of 2 Bibles held by archetypal woman Melania Trump during his swearing-in, but alternatively stood with his near limb down by his broadside arsenic helium raised his close manus for the oath of office. Some commentators person blamed his woman for not bringing it rapidly capable to her husband.

Trump said: "I bash solemnly curse (or affirm) I volition faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and volition to the champion of my ability, preserve, protect, and support the Constitution of the United States."

Trump claimed helium was "saved by God to marque America large again" successful his inaugural code which was littered with discriminatory and bold statements, which ranged from transphobia to promises to contented enforcement orders declaring an exigency astatine the border. He went connected to specify January 20, 2025, arsenic a pivotal infinitesimal for citizens, labelling it "For American citizens, Jan. 20, 2025, is liberation day."

The code took a poignant crook erstwhile helium broached the taxable of California's devastating wildfires, making a remark that seemed to prioritise the losses of well-heeled homeowners implicit others. He said: "They're raging done houses and communities, adjacent affecting immoderate of the wealthiest and astir almighty individuals successful our country, immoderate of whom are sitting present close now. They don't person a location immoderate longer. That's interesting."

Touching connected the volatile confederate borderline situation, Trump ominously announced subject measures, stating, "I volition nonstop troops to the confederate borderline to repel the disastrous penetration of our country." In keeping with his decisiveness, helium pledged the contiguous issuing of an enforcement bid declaring a nationalist exigency arsenic soon arsenic the inauguration formalities concluded.