'How can we stop what's happening?' Social media blows up on Inauguration Day

Eagle eye viewers later found Obama and Bush whispering to one another once they arrived at their seats in the Capitol Rotunda, kicking off rampant speculation on social media. Jackie Gonzalez, famous on social media for her ability to lipread went viral for her take on what was allegedly said.

"How can we stop what's happening?" Obama allegedly asks a smirking Bush. As of Wednesday morning, nearly 300,000 people had liked the post.

The inauguration's next viral moment came just a few short moments later, when, during the Oath of Office, Trump neglected to place his hand on the two stacked Bibles being held by his wife, Melania, making him the first president to withhold his hand from the holy book since President Lyndon Johnson's abrupt ascension to the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Social media users caught on instantly.

Jack Jenkins, national reporter for Religion News Service, immediately noted the omission, citing it as "not required … but notable!" 

Posting a picture of Trump's swearing in, author and activist Brandan Robertson opined on the symbolic nature of the faux pas: "This man has no allegiance to God or to our Constitution, as demonstrated by this …" 

Still, many others joked that Trump avoided placing his hand on the Bible because that might "set it on fire" or cause him to be "struck by lightning."

That was not the only taunt the 47th president received on social media. Commenters on every platform took notice of the exceptionally wide brim of Melania Trump's hat, and its uncanny ability to prevent the president from kissing her. 

The awkward chapeau was immortalized in innumerable hilarious memes. 

The memes threatened to overshadow Trump's inaugural address, itself a rather gloomy and ominous speech, if not for the horrifying and blatant act of antisemitism that occurred moments later as Elon Musk addressed the crowd in the Capital One Arena.

While thanking supporters and emphasizing the importance of the 2025 election, Musk made what appeared to be two enthusiastic and earnest Nazi salutes. The salute, cheered by extremist groups, was allegedly scrubbed from many rebroadcasts. Some social media users contested that it was a "Roman salute" or simply misunderstood enthusiasm in the heat of the moment. Others blamed the expression on Musk's neurodivergence, a comment that itself prompted backlash. 

Most were not convinced.

NCR contributor Steve Millies posted on Bluesky: "From 'Stand back & stand by' to Musk's salute you can try hard to explain it all as poor word choice or 'awkward gesture.' But the Nazis feel seen which means your generous gymnastics are a distinction without a difference. When you're choking on so much persistent smoke there is a fire somewhere."

"This is wild," posted Chris Damian on Instagram. His post compared language from Hitler in 1936, to Trump's inaugural address and Musk's Nazi salute. "I kinda think this isn't on purpose. Which actually makes it scarier in a lot of ways."

Democratic politicians were quick to call out the gesture as well.

"Its not a gaffe. It's back to back, clear as day Nazi salutes. And how does this not make sense? Did we not just watch the campaign Trump ran? Have we all not seen the antisemitism in MAGA?" wrote Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut on Bluesky.

In the midst of the firestorm caused by the apparent fascist gesture, the latest and perhaps most profound viral moment occurred when Episcopalian Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, speaking directly to Trump, delivered a courageous sermon defending the rights of LGBTQ Americans, migrants and children at the National Prayer Service.

Budde's testimony made waves with Catholics online.

"The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., asks President Trump to have mercy on those 'who are scared now,' including LGBTQ people and migrants, at the Washington National Cathedral, said Jesuit Fr. James Martin.

"Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and Pope Francis have the same pastorally-minded sensibilities!" reflected Catholic theologian Rich Raho.

Trump was not pleased.

"The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater," he said in a late-night post on Truth Social, referring to the bishop's sermon, which included a plea for mercy, as "nasty in tone." 

Trump then demanded an apology for his hurt feelings.

There were many more moments — Trump has signed dozens of executive orders touching nearly every aspect of public life such as migration, gender identity and the environment — and reaction from social media users continues to pour in. 

Perhaps RNS' Jenkins summed it up best on Inauguration Day — just three hours into the Trump presidency: "I am already tired."

Us too, Jack.