What Bible did Obama use to be sworn in?
Asked by: Rozella Adams PhD | Last update: March 15, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (4 votes)
President Barack Obama used two significant Bibles for his swearing-in ceremonies: the Lincoln Bible, used by Abraham Lincoln, for his first inauguration in 2009 and his second-term public ceremony, and his wife Michelle's family Bible for the private swearing-in for his second term; he also used the Martin Luther King Jr. Bible (his "traveling Bible") for the second inauguration's public ceremony, creating a powerful connection to American history and civil rights.
What Bible did Barack Obama use?
History. Barack Obama using the Lincoln Bible (being held by Michelle Obama) to take the oath of office at his first inauguration on January 20, 2009 Donald Trump takes the oath of office on the Trump family Bible and the Lincoln Bible, January 20, 2017.
Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Did Obama put his hand on the Bible twice?
Oath of office
At the public inaugural ceremony, Vice President Biden was sworn in using the Biden family Bible, while President Obama was sworn in using two Bibles owned by Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. President Obama became the 17th U.S. president to be re-elected for a second term of office.
Did Obama put his hand on the Quran when he was sworn in?
Qur'an claim
A chain e-mail circulating during the presidential campaign claimed that Obama took his oath of office as a U.S. Senator in 2005 while placing his hand on a Qur'an rather than a Bible. This claim is false, as Obama was sworn into office using a Bible that he owned.
Barack Obama will take the oath of office on the Lincoln Bible
Which president had a copy of the Quran?
Thomas Jefferson owned a copy of the Qur'an, which was the second edition of a 1734 translation by George Sale, a two-volume set published in London in 1764. This set was sold to the Library of Congress in 1815, and rebound by the Library in 1918.
What Bible do they use to swear in the president?
The George Washington Inaugural Bible is the Bible that was sworn upon by George Washington when he took office as the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789. The Bible has subsequently been the oath book in the inauguration ceremonies of several other U.S. presidents.
What is the only Bible endorsed by Trump?
The God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, also known as the Trump Bible, is an anthology or compilation of texts—some of them deliberately incomplete—in the realm of American Civil Religion and Trumpism, containing an edition of the King James Version of the Christian Bible, alongside texts related to the foundation and politics ...
Is the Bible mentioned in the constitution?
The U.S. Constitution does not mention the Bible, God, Jesus or Christianity, and the First Amendment clarifies that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Still, some scholars have argued that the Bible heavily influenced America's founders.
What two presidents walked to their swearing-in ceremonies?
Although most presidents rode to their Inaugurations in a carriage (or later, an automobile), Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson both walked to their Swearing-In Ceremonies.
What Bible did Trump use?
The "Trump Bible" refers to the God Bless the USA Bible, a special edition featuring the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, promoted by Donald Trump and inspired by Lee Greenwood's song. It's not a new translation but a compilation including America's founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance) alongside Scripture, marketed to promote Christian values in America, with copies printed in China despite Trump's "America First" stance.
Did Trump take his oath on the Bible?
Yes, Donald Trump has sworn on the Bible, notably using a family Bible and Abraham Lincoln's Bible at his first inauguration in 2017, but he did not place his hand on the Bibles during his 2025 inauguration, though they were present; it's a tradition, not a legal requirement, to use a Bible for the oath.
What did Trump take out of his Bible?
The "Trump Bible," officially the God Bless the U.S.A. Bible by Lee Greenwood, is missing US Constitutional Amendments 11 through 27, including key ones like the 13th (abolishing slavery), 19th (women's suffrage), and 26th (18-year-old vote), because the publisher excludes amendments added after the "original founding documents," though these later additions are integral to the U.S. Constitution and American civil rights.
Which faith is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump identifies as a Christian, specifically a Presbyterian who later described himself as nondenominational, having been raised in his mother's Presbyterian faith and influenced by positive thinking. He's associated with Protestantism, attends church sporadically, and maintains strong ties with Evangelical Christians, who form a significant part of his political base.
What religion is Bill Clinton?
Bill Clinton identifies as a ** Baptist**, raised in the faith and often attending Baptist and Methodist churches, though he experienced periods of drifting from formal practice during college and his early political career. His faith, often described as moderate evangelical or mainstream Protestant, influenced his public rhetoric with biblical references and a focus on shared civil religion, providing personal solace and shaping his worldview, despite criticism from the religious right.
What is Michelle Obama's religion?
Michelle Obama is a Protestant Christian, raised in the Methodist tradition and later affiliated with Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, though she has expressed her faith more broadly as a personal journey focused on daily actions and moral choices, similar to Jesus's ministry. Her faith grounds her and shapes her actions, emphasizing service and justice, but she and her husband have attended various Protestant churches since leaving Trinity.
What name was mentioned 7000 times in the Bible?
The name mentioned nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) is Yahweh (also transliterated as Jehovah), the personal, sacred name of God, represented by the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) in Hebrew, though it's often replaced by "LORD" or "God" in many English Bibles. It's the most frequent name in the Bible, used to identify the one true God, unlike titles like "Almighty" or "Most High".
Why is Matthew 17:21 left out of New Bibles?
Matthew 17:21 is missing from many modern Bibles because it doesn't appear in the earliest and most reliable ancient manuscripts, leading scholars to believe it was a later addition, likely copied from Mark 9:29 into the Gospel of Matthew by scribes, though some versions include it as a footnote or bracketed text to acknowledge its presence in later manuscripts like those used for the King James Version (KJV).
Why is 777 the number of God?
The number 777 symbolizes divine perfection, completion, and holiness, deriving its meaning from the biblical significance of the number 7 (representing God's perfect creation in six days, plus a day of rest) being tripled to signify the perfect wholeness of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and God's complete work, contrasting with 666 (imperfection). While 777 isn't a specific biblical command, it's a powerful theological concept reinforcing God's ultimate perfection, spiritual fulfillment, and divine order in scripture and faith.
What president didn't use a Bible to swear in?
Several U.S. Presidents have not used a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (no book after McKinley's death), Calvin Coolidge (didn't use his family Bible in Vermont), and Lyndon B. Johnson (mistakenly used a Catholic missal on Air Force One). The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, making it a tradition, not a mandate.
What has Donald Trump done for Christians?
After 2020, Trump increasingly embraced Christian nationalism in rhetoric and imagery, selling Bibles, framing his campaigns as spiritual battles, and creating a federal task force on anti-Christian discrimination.
What church did Trump hold the Bible in?
Following a five-minute walk from the White House, Trump arrived at St. John's Church at 7:06 p.m. His daughter, Ivanka, handed him a Bible which she carried there in her handbag. Trump turned the Bible over, and held it aloft as he stood in front of Ashburton House beside the church noticeboard.
Did Trump swear on a Bible?
Yes, Donald Trump has sworn on the Bible, notably using a family Bible and Abraham Lincoln's Bible at his first inauguration in 2017, but he did not place his hand on the Bibles during his 2025 inauguration, though they were present; it's a tradition, not a legal requirement, to use a Bible for the oath.
Can you refuse to swear on a Bible in court?
Today it is well settled that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution denies the government any authority to coerce a person into performing a religious act, including swearing oaths on a bible.
Did JFK swear on a Bible?
The oath of office of the president was administered to Kennedy by Chief Justice Earl Warren using a closed family Bible at 12:51 (ET) although he officially became president at the stroke of noon.