In a recent episode of her podcast “Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey,” host Allie Beth Stuckey addressed the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony during his second inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20.
The specific issue? Trump did not place his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office.
Stuckey broke down the scene, explaining, “President Trump stood in front of the Bible with Melania by his side and… went through this swearing-in ceremony.” She noted the symbolic importance of the moment, as Melania held not one but two Bibles: a family Bible and the historic Lincoln Bible, famously used by Abraham Lincoln in 1861 and later by Barack Obama.
/**/However, as Stuckey highlighted, many observers were quick to criticize when they noticed that Trump’s hand was not resting on the Bibles during the oath. Instead, one hand was raised, and the other was by his side. Some speculated that this was a deliberate omission with deeper meaning.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
Stuckey dismissed these concerns, emphasizing that placing a hand on the Bible is not a legal or procedural requirement for the oath of office. She explained, “People were saying, ‘Oh, this must mean something. This is bad.’ But in reality, it is not required for you to put your hand on the Bible. I don’t think he’s signifying anything.”
She attributed the situation to the pace of the ceremony: “If you watch the video of this happening, it was a little rushed. You could tell Melania was trying to get up by him, and Chief Justice Roberts started reading the oath before Melania was right there. And so I think it was just a rushed situation.”
Stuckey also pointed out that the Trumps bringing their family Bible speaks volumes about their intentions. “The fact that they provided their own family Bible means that they did care about that, that it was important to them, even if it was just symbolic. I mean, they thought about that. They brought the Bible. If they didn’t care at all, they wouldn’t have provided a family Bible.”
Stuckey’s comments serve as a reminder that public figures, especially President Trump and his administration, will always be under intense scrutiny. Every action, no matter how small, will be dissected and debated.
For Christians, Stuckey’s response is a perfect example on using discernment, and shows us as believers how not to jump to conclusions or assign undue significance to symbolic gestures.
In today’s polarized climate, moments like these provide an opportunity to pause and reflect. As Stuckey demonstrated, sometimes the simplest explanation is the most accurate.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
