A wild conspiracy has emerged online after Donald Trump was sworn in without putting his hand on the bible.PauseMute
The inauguration on 20 January saw the 78-year-old become president once more.
Unlike his VP, the new president did not place his hand on the bible presented by his wife, Melania Trump.
This decision raised a few questions online with a bizarre conspiracy theory emerging.
Some are convinced that the man present on Monday was in fact a body double and not the real Donald Trump, so he was unable to swear on the bible.
One person said: “THEY DIDNT SWEAR IN THE REAL TRUMP!! The real DJT was already sworn in,” one X user baselessly. “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 while sharing photos of Trump and Vance together.
“Every President of America has sworn in by putting their hand on the Bible,” another. “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 believe that Trump had already been sworn in at a private ceremony, and that the “real” 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. “This is the only way to root these people out.”
“Body double, so he cannot put his hand on the Bible,” one person to the moment. “[The] real Trump is in Cheyenne Mountain.”
As it turns out, placing a hand on the bible is not a legal requirement.
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.”
Since being handed the power, he has wasted no time in getting to work.
For 4 years, a ban on federal executions has been in place, after three defendants remain on federal death row – with Joe Biden converting the 37 others’ sentences to life imprisonment.
In the executive order, Trump blamed Biden for ‘commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 most vile and sadistic r*pists, child m*lesters, and murderers on Federal death row: remorseless criminals who brutalised young children, strangled and drowned their victims, and hunted strangers for sport’.
As well as claiming ‘judges who oppose capital punishment have likewise disregarded the law by falsely claiming that capital punishment is unconstitutional, even though the Constitution explicitly acknowledges the legality of capital punishment’.
The order stated that ‘capital punishment is an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens’.
“Before, during, and after the founding of the United States, our cities, States, and country have continuously relied upon capital punishment as the ultimate deterrent and only proper punishment for the vilest crimes,”.
“Our Founders knew well that only capital punishment can bring justice and restore order in response to such evil. For this and other reasons, capital punishment continues to enjoy broad popular support.
“Yet for too long, politicians and judges who oppose capital punishment have defied and subverted the laws of our country.
“At every turn, they seek to thwart the execution of lawfully imposed capital sentences and choose to enforce their personal beliefs rather than the law.”
“The Government’s most solemn responsibility is to protect its citizens from abhorrent acts.
“And my Administration will not tolerate efforts to stymie and eviscerate the laws that authorise capital punishment against those who commit horrible acts of violence against American citizens.”
The order also states the Attorney General ‘shall take all necessary and lawful action to ensure that each state that allows capital punishment has a sufficient supply of drugs needed to carry out lethal injection’.
