Trump stirs curiosity online after not placing hand on Bible during oath By Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump took the oath of office on Monday with his right hand raised, but not his left hand, on two Bibles that his wife Melania held at his side.

Academics say the apparent oversight has no practical effect, but it has piqued the interest of the Internet.Despite the pomp of the inauguration and the uplifting speech, the best thing Americans searched for about Trump ( NASDAQ ) on Monday afternoon was that he didn’t put his hand up. On the Bible, which contains the scriptures of Christians and Jews.

What an incoming president swears on, whether it’s a Bible, a historical document or nothing at all, is irrelevant to taking office, says Jeremy Suri, a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and a presidential scholar.

“There’s nothing in the Constitution that says the president has to associate it with God in any way,” he said. “The oath is on the Constitution.”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with his oath.” He added that the Constitution allows an incoming president to either take an oath or testify. The US founding fathers “left that out for someone who is an atheist,” Suri said.

Spokesmen for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.

Article II of the US Constitution states that the incoming president “shall take the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability. (OTC:), preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Trump chose a Bible when 16th President Abraham Lincoln was sworn in, and one was given to Trump by his mother, his transition team said.