The short answer
At both of his inaugurations, in 2017 and 2025, Donald Trump had two Bibles: a Revised Standard Version his mother gave him in 1955, and the Lincoln Bible, an 1853 Oxford printing of the King James Version held by the Library of Congress. The God Bless the USA Bible he promoted in 2024 uses the King James Version.
The two inauguration Bibles
Donald Trump took the presidential oath with the same two Bibles in 2017 and in 2025: one from his family and one from the Library of Congress.
The first is his childhood Bible, a Revised Standard Version printed in 1953 by Thomas Nelson and Sons. His mother gave it to him in 1955, when he completed Sunday Church Primary School at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, and his name is embossed on the cover.
The second is the Lincoln Bible, a King James Version printed by Oxford University Press in 1853 and bound in burgundy velvet. Abraham Lincoln took the oath on it in 1861, it has belonged to the Library of Congress since 1928, and Barack Obama used it at both of his inaugurations.
2017 and 2025
At his first inauguration, on January 20, 2017, he was sworn in with both Bibles. On January 20, 2025, Melania Trump held the same two Bibles while he took the oath with his right hand raised; he did not place his hand on them. The Constitution does not require a Bible for the presidential oath; using one is a tradition.
About the Revised Standard Version
The Revised Standard Version, published by the National Council of Churches' Division of Christian Education, is a revision of the 1901 American Standard Version, which itself stands in the King James tradition. Its New Testament appeared in 1946 and its Old Testament in 1952. It was later revised as the New Revised Standard Version (1989), and the English Standard Version (2001) began as a revision of its 1971 text.
The God Bless the USA Bible
On March 26, 2024, Trump promoted the God Bless the USA Bible in a video on Truth Social. It uses the King James Version and adds the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and a handwritten chorus of Lee Greenwood's song God Bless the U.S.A. It was priced at $59.99 before shipping, and its website stated that none of the proceeds would go to his campaign.
An earlier plan for a God Bless the USA Bible, announced in 2021, would have used the NIV, but in May 2021 HarperCollins Christian Publishing and its imprint Zondervan said they would not produce it.
The translations at a glance
Two translations appear in these Bibles: the Revised Standard Version and the King James Version.
| Bible | Translation | Used or promoted |
|---|---|---|
| Childhood Bible from his mother | Revised Standard Version (1953 printing, Thomas Nelson and Sons) | Inaugurations of 2017 and 2025 |
| Lincoln Bible (Library of Congress) | King James Version (Oxford University Press, 1853) | Inaugurations of 2017 and 2025 |
| God Bless the USA Bible | King James Version | Promoted in March 2024 |
From our shelf
The King James Version, as we print it
The Lincoln Bible and the God Bless the USA Bible both use the King James Version. We print the King James New Testament as the Black and White Editions; we have no connection with either Bible described above.
The Black Edition, King James Version
The complete New Testament in the KJV (the standard 1769 text), white text on black pages, the words of Jesus in red. A5, 392 pages.
Softcover $60 · Hardcover $80 · eBook $10 USD
See the KJV Black Edition
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Questions
More questions people ask
Did Trump put his hand on the Bible in 2025?
No. Melania Trump held the two Bibles, and he took the oath with his right hand raised without placing his left hand on them.
What translation is the Lincoln Bible?
The King James Version, in an 1853 printing by Oxford University Press, according to the Library of Congress.
What translation is the God Bless the USA Bible?
The King James Version, with added copies of U.S. founding documents, the Pledge of Allegiance and the chorus of Lee Greenwood's song.
Sources
- foxnews.com: Childhood Bible: 1953 Revised Standard Version, Thomas Nelson and Sons, given by his mother in 1955 for his Sunday Church Primary School graduation at First Pre…
- ewtnnews.com: Childhood Bible embossed with his name; Melania Trump held it at the January 20, 2025 oath
- boston.com: 2017: mother's Bible from 1955 (First Presbyterian Church in Queens) and the Lincoln Bible, an 1853 Oxford University Press printing of the King James Bible bou…
- blogs.loc.gov: Lincoln Bible: King James translation printed by Oxford University Press in 1853 (Library of Congress blog, Jan 18, 2013)
- hnn.us: Lincoln Bible: 1853 Oxford University Press, burgundy velvet, 1,280 pages (Library of Congress press release, Dec 2008)
- wlrn.org: 2025: both Bibles; Lincoln Bible used by Lincoln 1861, by Obama twice and by Trump in 2017; Melania Trump held the Bibles; Trump did not place his hand on eithe…
- nbcwashington.com: Lincoln Bible given to the Library of Congress by the widow of Robert Todd Lincoln in 1928; burgundy velvet with gilded edges
- nbcnews.com: God Bless the USA Bible: promoted March 26, 2024 on Truth Social; King James Version; Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Pledge of Alleg…
- religionunplugged.com: 2021 plan used the NIV; HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Zondervan said they would not produce it (May 25, 2021)
- en.wikipedia.org: RSV: revision of the 1901 ASV; NT 1946, OT 1952; NCC Division of Christian Education; revised as NRSV 1989; ESV (2001) revised the RSV's 1971 text