Technically, the Constitution does NOT mandate a specific time for WHEN the oath is to be administered. The only mandated time is regarding when the prior term ends: noon on January 20th. After that the "successors" assume office. However, a legitimate successor cannot assume office until they have taken the oath.
Zachary Taylor didn't actually take office until March 5th, because he didn't take his oath until March 5th... March 4th was a Sunday and he didn't want to do it on the Sabbath. So interestingly enough, the senate pro tempore at the time, David Rice Atchison was technically acting president for 24hrs from noon on the 4th to noon on the 5th.
For the sake of hypothetical argument, if it was a legitimate oath, and he is the legitimate successor, then Biden taking this oath 10 minutes early would meant absolutely nothing. He could have taken the oath 4 days ago. The timing is irrelevant, so long as he doesn't assume office until he takes the oath, and he couldn't take office until the expiration of the prior term. Again, this assuming that Biden is the legitimate successor and took a legitimate oath. However, we all know that he is not the legitimate successor so any oath he took, regardless of when he took it, doesn't matter.
But here's the thing... because the Constitution doesn't dictate a specific time of WHEN the oath must be taken, it can certainly be taken early, even before the new president's term is eligible to start. He takes it early, but won't assume office until 12:01pm on the 20th.
So if Trump, the legitimate successor (to himself) actually did take the oath on January 11th, for his second term to begin on the 20th, then he is still President at this very moment. Perhaps that's why he's still got the nuclear codes?
Technically, the Constitution does NOT mandate a specific time for WHEN the oath is to be administered. The only mandated time is regarding when the prior term ends: noon on January 20th. After that the "successors" assume office. However, a legitimate successor cannot assume office until they have taken the oath.
Zachary Taylor didn't actually take office until March 5th, because he didn't take his oath until March 5th... March 4th was a Sunday and he didn't want to do it on the Sabbath. So interestingly enough, the senate pro tempore at the time, David Rice Atchison was technically acting president for 24hrs from noon on the 4th to noon on the 5th.
For the sake of hypothetical argument, if it was a legitimate oath, and he is the legitimate successor, then Biden taking this oath 10 minutes early would meant absolutely nothing. He could have taken the oath 4 days ago. The timing is irrelevant, so long as he doesn't assume office until he takes the oath, and he couldn't take office until the expiration of the prior term. Again, this assuming that Biden is the legitimate successor and took a legitimate oath. However, we all know that he is not the legitimate successor so any oath he took, regardless of when he took it, doesn't matter.
But here's the thing... because the Constitution doesn't dictate a specific time of WHEN the oath must be taken, it can certainly be taken early, even before the new president's term is eligible to start. He takes it early, but won't assume office until 12:01pm on the 20th.
So if Trump, the legitimate successor (to himself) actually did take the oath on January 11th, for his second term to begin on the 20th, then he is still President at this very moment. Perhaps that's why he's still got the nuclear codes?