Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed President Donald Trump’s inaugural oath Monday, however, it wasn’t the first time Roberts made it a tad awkward for an incoming president.
During Trump’s inauguration inside the Capitol Rotunda, Roberts appeared to rush the oath, starting it before First Lady Melania Trump could bring over a stack of two bibles to her husband. As Trump began the oath without placing his hand on the bibles, other members of the first family began to slowly file in behind their father. (RELATED: Left Begins Attacks On Trump Within Minutes Of His Swearing-In)
For those wondering why Trump’s hand wasn’t on the Bible. Justice Roberts started the oath before Melania could get there. pic.twitter.com/S6753hpVI2
— JereMemez (@Jere_Memez) January 20, 2025
However, this was not the first Roberts bubbled an oath. In 2009, as the justice swore in President Barack Obama, he made a slight mistake with the oath’s wording, causing Obama to trip up.
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Instead of what is constitutionally required for the incoming president to say, “I do solemnly swear 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,” Roberts prompted Obama to say, “that I will execute the Office of President of the United States faithfully.”
The Chief Justice moved a tad too quickly before Trump could put his hand on the bible. Roberts previously had an embarrassing moment with Obama. https://t.co/BLfbYkbkap On this occasion, Roberts got the oath right but the timing was off. However, there is no need for a redo…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) January 20, 2025
The minor hitch raised concerns at the time that Obama was not legally sworn in, according to Reuters. The following day, he retook the oath with Roberts, this time word for word as stipulated in the U.S. Constitution.
Although Roberts rushed the oath with Trump and the president did not have a hand on a bible, the wording was correct, and there will be no need for a redo, as the U.S. Constitution does not require that a religious text be used at a swearing-in ceremony.
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