The 45th U.S President Donald Trump has taken charge in the 58th Presidential inauguration ceremony on Friday at about 10.40 pm Indian time. The US marine band was played before the oath taking ceremony of Trump.The CJ of USA administered the oath. The event is always on January 20, every four years. If January 20 falls on a Sunday, a private swearing-in is conducted, followed by a ceremonial one at the Capitol the next day.
The 35-word oath is specified in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S Constitution. The President-elect can either “solemnly swear” or “affirm.” “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, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Presidents end their oath with the phrase, “so help me God.” This is not part of the constitution, and some years ago, anti-religious groups challenged this phrase in the Supreme Court. The SC rejected their argument.
Most Presidents have taken oath on the bible, which is not a constitutional requirement. Donald Trump will use two bibles — one that Abraham Lincoln used in his first inaugural in 1861, which is part of the Library of Congress collections and another one that his mother gifted him in childhood. Obama used the Lincoln bible in 2009 and 2013. Most Presidents have left it open to a passage that has particular meaning for them.
A court clerk the held the bible until 1965 when Lyndon Johnson’s wife Claudia held it for him. Spouses have held it since then.
But when Lyndon B. Johnson took his first oath of office on November 22, 1963 — on Air Force One two hours after the assassination of John F Kennedy — there wasn’t a bible available. A Catholic prayer book found in Kennedy’s room in the plane was used. The second President John Adams also did not use a bible.
On Friday morning, Mr. Trump will attend a worship service, which has been another tradition. The venue has not been announced, but in all probability, it will be the St. John’s Episcopal Church near White House. After the worship the President-elect will meet the President at the White House for coffee. The President will accompany the President-elect to the Capitol.
By the time the new President and family arrive, the White House will have new curtains, carpets, paintings and all other specified design changes as desired by the incoming occupants. There are a few options for choose from, even for the Oval Office desk. The White House staff will have done this all in roughly five to six hours.
Around 59 Democratic lawmakers are set to boycott Mr. Trump’s inauguration. He is the most unpopular President on the inauguration day, in the history of the U.S.
28 groups — environmentalist, civil rights, women’s rights groups among them — have been allowed to hold protests, and 350,000 demonstrators are expected. This could also be historic. 800000 supporters of Mr. Trump are expected to witness the festivities in Washington DC.
