January 20th saw the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Viewers watched the inauguration in the Capital One Arena as the Trumps were welcomed by the Bidens, and his second presidency began. In his speech to the nation, Trump claimed that “the golden age of America begins right now. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first.”
The National Prayer Service was held the following day at the Washington National Cathedral. The service was led by Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, who pleaded with Mr. Trump to “have mercy upon the people in our country are scared now.”
In his restoration to power, Mr. Trump began swiftly unveiling a long list of Oval Office signings. Many of these acts have been in an effort to reverse the domestic and international policies of former President Joe R. Biden, with a primary focus on climate and immigration. Some of the most striking executive orders include the pardoning of nearly 1600 people convicted of crimes relating to storming the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Mr. Trump had previously pledged to release some of the January 6th rioters who he believed were unjustly persecuted, but he seems poised to include even violent offenders who attacked police officers.
In keeping another promise, Mr. Trump has already begun appointing new leaders in the US Attorney’s Offices, indicating how crucial prosecutors will be for his tenure as president. Additionally, all federal employees working within DEI programs were placed on paid leave, and will eventually be laid off. Moving quickly to undo the work of Mr. Biden, Trump claimed that federal DEI programs are “radical and wasteful,”
Testing the limits of presidential power, Mr. Trump has made moves to end birthright citizenship, a right provided by the Constitution. Legal scholars claim Mr. Trump’s order is likely unconstitutional. MAGA lawmakers in Congress are also pushing Trump’s agenda forward. On Monday, the Senate voted to pass the Laken Riley Act, which would require ICE agents to arrest undocumented immigrants who have been only charged, not convicted, with petty crimes, like shoplifting.
Within the whirlwind of executive orders, it can be difficult to fully analyse whether some are just empty posturing or if some will have serious ramifications. However, Mr. Trump will likely continue his isolationist approach to governing from his first term, perhaps more intense this time around. On his first day in office, Mr. Trump once again pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement and also withdrew from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Some Republican officials have for long aspired to cut global aid projects. In Mr. Trump’s first term, he slashed funding to several United Nations agencies. The U.S. foreign aid industry is “not aligned with American interests.” Mr. Trump wrote in his statement that he announced the cutbacks.
According to experts, a number of Trump’s orders are almost certain to be challenged and court battles are to be anticipated.