Who is John Roberts? Meet the Chief Justice Who Administered Oath to Trump

Republican leader Donald Trump was officially sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, marking the beginning of his second term in office.

The swearing-in ceremony took place inside the Capitol Rotunda, a change from the usual outdoor tradition due to frigid temperatures in Washington, D.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office, cementing Trump's return to the presidency.

Who is John Roberts?

John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court since 2005, holds a pivotal position in the country's judicial framework. Known for his moderate conservative stance, Roberts was first nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, though the Senate did not act on the nomination. A decade later, President George W. Bush successfully appointed him to the same court in 2003.

In 2005, Roberts was nominated to the Supreme Court to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. However, the sudden death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist later that year led to Roberts' elevation to Chief Justice. Since then, he has presided over landmark cases and several presidential inaugurations, becoming a central figure in the U.S. judiciary.

Roberts' Role in Trump's Inauguration

During Monday's inauguration, Chief Justice Roberts performed the ceremonial duty of administering the presidential oath to Donald Trump. This marks the fourth time Roberts has administered U.S. president and the second time for Trump, having done so during his first inauguration in 2017.

The dynamic between President Trump and Chief Justice Roberts has been both cooperative and contentious over the years.

Disagreements: Trump has publicly criticised Roberts, notably calling him a "disgrace" for upholding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), a signature policy of former President Barack Obama.

Agreements: Roberts, however, supported Trump's 2018 travel ban on several predominantly Muslim countries.
Roberts also presided over Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020, which ended in acquittal. Yet, he ruled against the Trump administration on key issues such as the failed attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census and efforts to dismantle protections for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children (DACA).