President Donald Trump, when taking his most recent oath of office, did not appear to place his left hand on either of the Bibles brought to the swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday.

From historic Bibles to the leading role of the country's chief justice, Inauguration Day has been filled with traditions. Which ones have endured?

Donald Trump became the 47th American president on Monday, but the oath of office itself has been administered 73 times before to the 46 preceding chief executives. According to the Architect of the Capitol,

Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible when he was sworn in following the death of President William McKinley in 1901. Lyndon Johnson had his hand on a Catholic missal, or prayer book, when he took the oath aboard Air Force One after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

WASHINGTON — The chief justice of the Supreme Court traditionally administers the oath of office to the incoming ... to early vice presidents like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ...

Legally speaking, it doesn't matter whether the U.S. president placed his hand on a bible. And he wouldn't be the first not to.

As millions watched President Donald Trump’s inauguration at the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, many noticed that he did not place his left hand on a Bible while being sworn in. Now people are questioning that gesture, and wondering if the president can be sworn in without using a Bible.

Although it's done so often it seems like rule, is there a requirement to use a Bible during a swearing-in ceremony?

President Trump didn't place his hand on a Bible when he took his oath of office on Jan. 20, 2025. He’s not the first president to swear the oath without doing so.

During his oath, Trump did not place his hand atop the Bible, a moment that quickly took over on social media as people watching at home took notice. #BREAKING: Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/VywxkH9E4D

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Morry Gash / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MORRY GASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)