Chief Justice John Roberts isn't very good when it comes to small details of his job...such as swearing in the most powerful man in the world. Roberts misremembered the oath of office in 2009, famously leading to a semi-private do-over for Barack Obama.

Today, Roberts messed up again. He rushed to begin the call-and-repeat oath before First Lady Melania Trump--who was holding two Bibles, the Lincoln Bible and the Trump family Bible--had reached the president's side.

🚨 What the hell just happened?

JD Vance was sworn in at 12pm, with his hand on the Bible.

Trump was sworn in at 12:01pm… with his hand NOT on the Bible. 👀 pic.twitter.com/YKxjTTpQ5H

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) January 20, 2025

Predictably, howls went up online. For those speculating that the lapse invalidates the ceremony, rest assured that a Bible is not required by the US Constitution to take the presidential oath.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh did prompt Vice President JD Vance to place his hand on the Bible. Roberts did not prompt Trump to do so, and in his haste, created a tempest in a teapot.

The full swearing-in ceremony below:

‘NO AD’ subscription for CDM!  Sign up here and support real investigative journalism and help save the republic!

• Dear Criminals: You're Free To Go In New York (Just Drive Really Fast)
• Nature Is Healing: Daniel Penny Rides Again