After taking the oath of office for the second time, President Donald Trump wasted little time unleashing an avalanche of executive orders to assert his agenda aiming to reshape U.S. policy on a number of critical fronts.
The executive orders announced by Trump following his inauguration targeted a wide range of issues, such as citizenship by birth, federal worker protocols, and the handling of TikTok’s operations in the US.
The nitty-gritty: Throughout the day, Trump delivered multiple speeches, participated in signing ceremonies, and interacted with reporters, showcasing an emphasis on public engagement and maintaining a prominent media presence.
- Several executive orders were symbolic in nature, such as the proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico “the Gulf of America” and to revert the name of Alaska’s highest peak to Mount McKinley from Denali.
- It was uncertain how immediate the impact of the executive orders would be and whether Congress or the courts could restrict their implementation.
- Trump’s pledge to impose high tariffs on imports, particularly targeting China, Canada, and Mexico, was not immediately fulfilled, leading to potential disappointment among his supporters.
- The president’s plans for addressing inflation, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and restructuring immigration and asylum policies were outlined, with some lacking specific details on implementation.
- Key actions on immigration included efforts to end birthright citizenship, increase immigration enforcement, declare a national emergency at the southern border, and revive the “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum-seekers.
- Additionally, a directive was issued to curtail programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, which may provoke opposition from civil rights advocates.
- Trump also signed orders restricting federal recognition of transgender and nonbinary individuals and seeking to overturn restrictions on conversion therapy, despite opposition from medical groups.