Trump to mirror Obama with historic inauguration move first used in 1861
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Donald Trump is set to make an historic statement at his swearing-in ceremony on Monday as he lays his hands upon not one but two Bibles while taking the oath of office, including one used by former President Abraham Lincoln.
This striking gesture echoes a precedent set by Obama, who also used two Bibles - including Lincoln's - for his second inauguration in 2013.
Trump's decision also brings in an added layer of personal meaning as he will also be using a Bible steeped in family sentiment.
One of the Bibles Trump will be using carries profound personal significance and was given to him by his mother in 1955 to commemorate his graduation from First Presbyterian Church Sunday School in Jamaica, New York.
A 1953 revised standard version, its black leather cover bears Trump's name embossed in gold.
Inside the front cover, an inscription commemorates its presentation to a young Trump at Jamaica, New York's First Presbyterian Church.
The signatures of church officials further underscore its importance as a treasured relic of Trump's early life.
The choice reflects Trump's self-professed grounding in faith and tradition, offering a rare glimpse into his formative years.
Donald Trump is set to make an historic statement at his swearing-in ceremony as he lays his hands upon two Bibles as he takes the oath of office, including one used by former Presidents Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln
This striking gesture echos a precedent set by Obama, who also used two Bibles for his second inauguration in 2013
President Barack Obama rests 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.
Preserved as part of the Library of Congress collection, the burgundy treasure has only been used 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 significance of using the Lincoln Bible describing the is as 'a symbol of continuity and strength that reflects the enduring values of the American people.'
The swearing-in ceremony will unfold within the grandeur of the Capitol rotunda, a far more intimate setting that on the Capitol steps per the original plan.
Adding to the gravity of the moment, Trump will take his oath facing a bust of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a figure synonymous with the ongoing struggle for equality.
This choice of setting coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday celebrating King's legacy.
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Obama put a symbolic twist on a time-honored tradition, taking the oath of office for his second term with his hand placed not on two Bibles, one owned by Martin Luther King Jr. and one by Abraham Lincoln
The bible used by Abraham Lincoln for his oath of office during his first inauguration in 1861
Michelle Obama holds the Lincoln bible at the inauguration of Barack Obama 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 two-Bible oath-taking in 2013 further amplifies the moment.
During his second inauguration, Obama used the Lincoln Bible alongside one that had belonged to Martin Luther King Jr.
Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on a family Bible given to him by his maternal great-grandmother.
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