A wild conspiracy theory has emerged on social media regarding Donald Trump’s swearing-in as President of the United States at his inauguration ceremony.
On Monday (January 20), 78-year-old Donald Trump became the 47th POTUS as he took the oath of office at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.
However, unlike new Vice President J.D. Vance, viewers observed that Trump did not place his hand on the Bible as he was sworn in.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1881391189670433265
The moment raised a few eyebrows with some viewers, with one particular bizarre conspiracy theory gaining traction on social media: that Trump used a body double.
Insane Conspiracy Theory Emerges on Social Media
Yes, despite Trump giving an address to the nation literally moments after taking the oath, some people were convinced that a body double had been used for his own protection – given the recent attempts on his life during his campaign trail.
As a result, this so-called “body double” or “stand-in” would have been unable to place his hand on the Bible to be sworn in.
“THEY DIDNT SWEAR IN THE REAL TRUMP!! The real DJT was already sworn in,” one X user baselessly claimed. “This was to divert the threat of ass*ssnation!!”
“I think he’s a stand in. He’s suddenly shorter than JD [Vance] in top two photos from today, compared to bottom campaign photos where Trump is taller,” another person tweeted while sharing photos of Trump and Vance together.
“Every President of America has sworn in by putting their hand on the Bible,” another wrote. “It is an honorable thing. It is an American thing. There are many reasons why Trump did not put his hand on the Bible. Being a body double of Trump being one.”
Others claimed that Trump had already been sworn in at a private ceremony, and that the “real” Donald Trump was hiding at a military base at Cheyenne Mountain.
“The Real Trump is in Cheyenne Mountain with the real Military Generals,” one X user typed. “This is the only way to root these people out.”
“Body double, so he cannot put his hand on the Bible,” one person responded to the moment. “[The] real Trump is in Cheyenne Mountain.”
However, of course, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of the confusion…
Real Reason Trump Didn’t Place Hand On The Bible
Firstly, while it is common for incoming presidents to place their hand on a Bible while taking the oath of office – in fact, Trump did perform the gesture at his first inauguration in 2017 – it’s not a legal requirement, CBS News reports.
Per Article VI of the United States Constitution: “All executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
That being said, Trump’s wife, Melania, was present with two Bibles at the time of her husband’s oath — one of the Bibles was given to the new POTUS by his mother when he was a child, and the Lincoln Bible, which was used at Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration.
However, from rewatching the footage, it is clear that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts began directing Trump in his oath before Melania could arrive next to her husband.
As such, Trump raised his right hand and started reciting the oath of office before Melania could reach him.
This led to many X users criticizing Chief Justice Roberts for “rushing” the ceremony.
Of course, Trump did touch on his religious beliefs during his inauguration address, telling the nation that he was “saved by God to make America great again” – a reference to the assassination attempts on his life back in July and again in September.
