Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Donald Trump becomes US President after losing popular election to Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes

45th leader will be sworn in using Abraham Lincoln's Bible

Jon Sharman
Friday 20 January 2017 03:36 EST
Comments
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during the presidential inaugural Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during the presidential inaugural Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Donald Trump will be officially sworn in as President of the United States today, having gained nearly three million fewer votes than his opponent.

The margin of 2.86 million ballots was the biggest popular vote disparity in US history for a candidate who has gone on to become President, significantly greater than the 544,000-vote gap between George W Bush and Al Gore in 2000.

Hillary Clinton's final tally was just 72,000 shy of Barack Obama's winning margin in the 2012 election, when he beat Mitt Romney.

The Republican won the Electoral College after victory in swing states such as Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, in addition to surprise wins in previously Democrat-held states including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Mr Trump will take the oath on Abraham Lincoln’s Bible, the same one used by Barack Obama for both of his ceremonies in 2009 and 2013.

The Lincoln Bible was bought for the inauguration in 1861 by Supreme Court Clerk William Thomas Carroll as the US was on the brink of Civil War.

It is bound in velvet, with a gold-washed metal rim along the edges of the covers.

The President-elect will also use his own Bible, which his mother gave him when he graduated Sunday school in 1955.

Mr Trump's Bible has his name embossed on the cover with a message inscribed from church leaders.

Once the oath has been taken under the eye of US Chief Justice John Roberts, Lincoln’s Bible will be returned to the Library of Congress.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence will be sworn in using the Bible that belonged to Ronald Reagan by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the first African-American person to administer the oath to a Vice President or President.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in