What a beautiful decision by President Trump.
President-elect Donald Trump will hold two Bibles during his inauguration ceremony on Monday, marking the conclusion of the 60th Presidential Inauguration. This significant moment will combine personal tradition and historic symbolism as Trump swears the oath of office.
Trump will use a Bible gifted to him by his mother in 1955. This cherished Bible, a 1953 revised standard edition published by Thomas Nelson and Sons in New York, is particularly meaningful to the President-elect. It commemorates his graduation from Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, New York. His name is embossed on the cover, and the inside includes signatures from church officials, as well as an inscription noting the occasion when it was presented to him. This Bible represents his long-standing connection to his Christian faith and his roots in New York.
In addition to his personal Bible, Trump will also take the oath using the historic Lincoln Bible. First used in 1861 to swear in President Abraham Lincoln, this Bible has since been part of America’s rich history, making appearances only a handful of times in the nation’s leadership transitions. It was used by President Obama at both of his inaugurations, and by Trump himself in 2017. This treasured Bible, bound in burgundy velvet, is preserved in the Library of Congress, making it a symbol of American history and liberty.
This moment will be especially poignant as Trump takes the oath facing a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., coinciding with the federal holiday honoring King’s legacy. It’s a powerful reminder of America’s foundational values—faith, freedom, and unity—at a pivotal moment in history as Trump embarks on his second term as the 47th President of the United States.