Donald Trump will make a historic statement during his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, taking the oath of office and taking the oath of office, including one used by former President Abraham Lincoln.
The striking gesture reflects a precedent set by Obama, who also used two Bibles – including Lincoln's – at his second inauguration in 2013.
Trump's decision also brings an extra layer of personal meaning, as he will also use a Bible steeped in family feeling.
One of the Bibles Trump will use has deeply personal meaning and was given to him by his mother in 1955 to commemorate his graduation from the First Presbyterian Church Sunday School in Jamaica, New York.
A revised standard version from 1953, with Trump's name embossed in gold on the black leather cover.
On the front, an inscription commemorates its presentation to a young Trump in Jamaica, New York's First Presbyterian Church.
The signatures of church officials further underscore its importance as a precious relic of Trump's early life.
The choice reflects Trump's self-proclaimed foundation in faith and tradition, and offers a rare glimpse into his formative years.
Donald Trump is about to make a historic statement during his swearing-in ceremony, laying hands on two Bibles as he takes the oath of office, including one used by former Presidents Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln
This striking gesture reflects a precedent set by Obama, who also used two Bibles at his second inauguration in 2013.
President Barack Obama places his hand on President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible as his wife Michelle Obama holds it as he takes the oath of office in January 2009
“Marking this moment with my mother's Bible honors her legacy and reminds me of the spiritual guidance I carry to this day,” Trump said in a press release from his inaugural committee.
Complementing this deeply personal text is the iconic Lincoln Bible, a velvet-bound artifact first used in 1861 to inaugurate Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States.
The burgundy treasure, held as part of the Library of Congress collection, has been used only three times since Lincoln's inauguration: by President Obama in both 2009 and 2013 and by Trump himself in 2017.
The Trump team underscored the importance of using the Lincoln Bible, describing it as “a symbol of continuity and strength that reflects the enduring values of the American people.”
The swearing-in ceremony will take place in the grandeur of the Capitol rotunda, a much more intimate setting than on the Capitol steps under the original plan.
Adding to the gravity of the moment, Trump will take his oath of office in front of a bust of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a figure synonymous with the ongoing struggle for equality.
This choice of location coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring King's legacy.
Obama put a symbolic twist on a time-honored tradition by taking the oath of office for his second term with his hand not on two Bibles, one belonging to Martin Luther King Jr. and one of Abraham Lincoln
The Bible that Abraham Lincoln used for his oath of office during his first inauguration in 1861
Michelle Obama holds the Lincoln Bible during Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009
Lincoln can be seen taking the oath of office during his first inauguration on March 4, 1861
Trump's choice to mirror Obama's historic swearing-in from two Bibles in 2013 further amplifies this moment.
During his second inauguration, Obama used the Lincoln Bible next to the Bible that belonged to Martin Luther King Jr.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will be sworn in on a family Bible given to him by his maternal great-grandmother.
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