Jacob Francy, 26
On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn-in as the 47th President, and J.D. Vance was sworn-in as the 50th Vice President of the United States. Trump stated in his inaugural address he would be a “peacemaker and unifier,” setting a bold goal for his 2nd-term. So far, he’s been busy at the Oval Office.
Mexico, Southern Border
First, Trump signed executive orders declaring a national emergency at the Southern Border in order to get permission to use the military to stop the flow of illegal immigration. Following further actions limiting refugee applicants, he commanded immigration officers to "repeal, repatriate, or remove any alien engaged in the invasion" of the southern border.
His anti-immigrant policies didn’t stop there, as he signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship of illegal immigrants, a constitutional right defined in the 14th Amendment. The ACLU has already challenged Trump in court for his actions. Online critics even pointed out that Trump’s own Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is the son of two illegal immigrants from Cuba coincidentally.
Environment & Energy
After he repealed dozens of Biden’s historic environmental regulations fighting climate change and global warming, President Trump declared another national emergency ordering deregulated drilling, similar to his slogan, “drill, baby, drill”.
Trump once again dropped the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which pledges with almost every country in the world to protect the Earth and limit carbon emissions. He then repealed any government credits or help for Americans and companies to use renewable energy, electric vehicles, and other clean power uses.
Attack on DEI & Trans Community
One of Trump’s first executive actions regarding the trans community stated, "it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female" on official government documents, removing the “X” option for trans, non-binary, and genderfluid Americans. Trump also rescinded Biden’s policy allowing transgender Americans to serve in the military.
Trump ordered the entire federal government to dismantle any and all Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, firing thousands of diversity workers for gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, and more. As he continues the fight against “woke” culture, Trump switched the hiring system to be only merit-based.
Some of these executive actions removed the Equal Employment Opportunity Order of 1965 signed by former President Lyndon B. Johnson during the Civil Rights Movement.
Federal Workers
Trump also required a full-time return to in-office work for federal employees and ordered a hiring freeze on government positions. He then again reinstated his Schedule F executive order, making it easier to fire civil servants deemed “disloyal”. The order could “strip employment protections from thousands of federal employees”. Employees are "not required to personally or politically support the current President", but they must "faithfully implement administration policies to the best of their ability," said the order.
Pardons
The President fulfilled his promise to pardon almost every single January 6 insurrectionist, totaling up to 1,500 people. The “hostages”, as Trump calls them, include the leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.
A couple of days after, he issued a "full and unconditional pardon" to two police officers convicted for the 2020 murder of Karon Hylton-Brown, a 20-year-old Black man, in Washington D.C.
Health
Trump announced he was pulling the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), known for their extremely important help in getting the population through the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. will be the only country aside from Lichtenstein not a part of WHO.
Trump also rescinded another Biden order which lowered prescription drug costs like insulin for seniors.
TikTok, DOGE, Gulf of America, & more
Trump also included a bunch of other topics in his executive actions, including suspending the TikTok ban by 75 days, establishing the potentially Elon Musk headed Federal Department of Government Efficiency, which needs Congressional approval, and even renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
It was a busy few first days for President Trump, and it is clear that his unorthodox way of governing will continue throughout his last term.