Rev Franklin Graham has provided vital context on why Trump did not swear on the Bible during Monday’s inauguration ceremony The incident sparked a firestorm of speculation among Christians online. The pastor insisted that the omission had no spiritual significance. He says it was simply an issue of ceremonial timing that led to the omission.
Graham said, “You’re supposed to be sworn in by 12, and I think it was now 1201, and so that was just kind of hurried, and didn’t have time.” During the ceremony, Lady Melania Trump was seen bringing the Bible to her husband’s side. However, as he began to swear his oath, Trump curiously did not place his hand on it. Graham, who gave an impassioned prayer during the ceremony, continued to explain.
He said, “Justice Kavanaugh started administering the oath before Melania even got up there with the Bibles, which, you know, it was just an awkward situation, but it wasn’t intentional, I promise.” The pastor explained that President Trump “cannot do his job without God” and is confident that he will “listen to the Christians” while in office.
“Biden was not friendly at all to people of faith,” the pastor said. “But Trump has always been friendly, and he’s going to listen to the Christians.” President Trump has “some wonderful Christians in his cabinet, people who love God” and Graham’s role was “to pray and to encourage people to pray for [Trump]”. Graham noted, “If he asks me a question, I’ll answer it, but I want to encourage people to pray for him because he cannot do his job without God.”
He went on to say,” America will never be great again if we turn our back on God.” The Rev. concluded “And so I want us to encourage everybody to pray for the President and just be a strength for him in that area, lifting him up in prayer every day.” In his dramatic prayer, he declared that God saved Trump’s life and “raised him up with strength and power”.
Trump echoed this idea when he said he had been “saved by God to make America great again.” In his inauguration prayer, Franklin Graham announced “Mr. President, over the last four years I’m sure there were times when you thought it was pretty dark.” “But look at what God has done. We praise him and give him glory,” he prayed.
He went on: “Our father, today, as President Donald J Trump takes the author of office once again, we come to say thank you O Lord our God. Father when Donald Trump’s enemies thought he was down and out you and you alone saved his life in raised him up with strength and Power by your mighty hand.” As he wrapped up his prayer during the indoor ceremony, he added, an impassioned plea to God.
“We pray for President Trump, that you will watch over, protect, guide and protect him – give him wisdom from your throne on high,” he said, “We ask that you would bless him, and bless our nation through him.” He also thanked God or Vice President JD Vance and asked that he stand beside President Trump and “hold up his arms like Aaron held up the arms of Moses in the midst of battle”.
Take a look at Graham’s invocation prayer below: