Bangladeshi Facebook users are circulating a photo from 2017, claiming that 78-year-old Donald Trump took the oath as the 47th President of the United States with his hand on the Holy Bible. However, in the 2025 photo, Mr. Trump is seen not placing his hand on the Holy Bible. His wife, Melania, was standing beside him, holding the Bible.
Before taking the oath, it is customary for U.S. Presidents to visit a church. Even if a President is personally non-religious, they attend church as a gesture of respect for the Christian-majority population and their religious values. This, however, does not mean that a leader must align themselves with a particular religion.
The U.S. presidential oath of office is specified in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
It is evident that the oath makes no mention of religion, the Holy Bible, or any divine entity. Taking an oath in God’s name is also not mandatory.
On January 20, at Capitol Hill, J.D. Vance took the oath as Vice President, administered by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Vance placed his hand on the Bible, held by his wife, Usha Vance. Later, Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath to Trump. Melania held the Bible during the ceremony. Following the oath, a gun salute honored the new President. Performances by Carrie Underwood and Christopher Macchio added to the event’s grandeur.
Before the ceremony, Trump and Melania attended a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, a tradition for U.S. presidential inaugurations. Notable attendees included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook. After the church service, they headed to the White House.
Mr. Trump referred to his inauguration day as "Independence Day," much like some in Bangladesh celebrate victory days after political movements. During his campaign, Trump cited an assassination attempt on his life and claimed divine intervention saved him to "Make America Great Again." This rhetoric mirrors that of certain past leaders in Bangladesh.
That said, why didn’t Trump place his hand on the Bible this time, unlike in 2017? This question has sparked discussions even in the U.S. Some argue based on 2017 photos, while others highlight clear images from 2025 showing no contact with the Bible. However, whether his hand touched the Bible or not is insignificant. The presence of the Bible implies that the oath was taken in its spirit. Does this harm the rights of other religions? A broad mind wouldn’t think so.
Presidential scholar and University of Texas professor Jeremy Suri clarified to Reuters:
"The Constitution does not require the President to be connected to God during the oath. The oath is on the Constitution. I don’t think the absence of a hand on the Bible carries any weight. According to the Constitution, one can either recite the oath or affirm it. The founders of the U.S. ensured this option for atheists as well."
American presidents take an oath to serve honestly and uphold the Constitution with their utmost capacity. In Bangladesh, leaders could theoretically swear on the Quran in Baitul Mukarram Mosque. But could we maintain an environment of genuine democracy, avoid dividing people based on religion, and refrain from perpetuating discrimination under various pretexts, as the U.S. does? Honesty seems nearly absent here, and even our Constitution struggles to endure for 50 years.
The United States gained independence in 1776, and its current Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, eleven years later. The nation still adheres to that Constitution. In contrast, the Constitution declared in 1972 after our independence is already shaky. So, do not compare U.S. presidents with our rulers. Would you then call it a joint production of democracy between the U.S. and Bangladesh?
Author: Journalist
January 22, 2025