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Trump launches second term with barrage of executive orders Trump returns to White House and unleashes barrage of executive orders
(about 1 hour later)
On stage, president signs order for US to withdraw from Paris climate accord and recision of 78 Biden-era measures President pledges immigration crackdown, rolls back climate rules and pardons 1,500 January 6 rioters
Donald Trump launched his second term as US president on Monday with a barrage of executive orders, the first round signed on stage at the Capitol One Arena in downtown Washington, where the inaugural parade was moved to avoid freezing temperatures outside. Donald Trump launched his second term as US president with a barrage of day one executive orders reaching into a broad swathe of American life, from pardoning hundreds of his supporters who attacked Congress on January 6, including rightwing extremists convicted of seditious conspiracy, to rolling back LGBTQ+ rights and environmental rules while declaring an immigration emergency on the southern border.
Among the measures signed on stage to cheers from a raucous crowd was the order for the US to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, a step the president took during his first term in power, before Joe Biden recommitted the US to that attempt to tackle the worsening climate crisis. Trump and his allies had long promised a “shock and awe” approach to regaining control of the US government. They did not hold back.
Trump delivered rambling remarks before the signing, filled with political grievances familiar from a decade on the national stage and earlier remarks at the Capitol after his formal inaugural address. The first round of orders were signed on stage at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, where the inaugural parade was moved to avoid freezing temperatures outside. Many more orders were signed shortly afterwards at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
Among measures he would sign later on Monday, Trump said, would be “pardons for a lot of people” convicted over the January 6 attack on Congress he incited, by telling supporters to “fight like hell” in support of his lie about electoral fraud in his 2020 defeat by Biden. Among measures signed on stage to cheers from a raucous crowd was an order for the US to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, a step the president took in his first term before Joe Biden recommitted the US to that attempt to tackle the worsening climate crisis.
On stage in Washington, Trump then signed a recision of 78 Biden-era executive orders, memoranda and other measures. Gleefully, Trump said about his signing ceremony: “Could you imagine Biden doing this? I don’t think so.”
In addressing the federal government he signed a regulatory freeze “until we have full control of the government”, a freeze on all federal hiring except in the military and some other categories and a requirement that federal workers return to full-time in-person work immediately. He also directed every department of government “to address the cost of living crisis”. From the White House, Trump gave what he called “full, complete and unconditional” pardons to around 1,500 people convicted of crimes over the deadly January 6 attack on Congress that he incited, by telling supporters to “fight like hell” in support of his lie about electoral fraud in his 2020 defeat by Biden.
More orders included a directive to the federal government ordering the restoration of protections of free speech and “preventing government censorship” and another directive ending the “weaponization of the government against the adversaries of the previous administration”. Trump also said he signed sentence commutations for six unnamed offenders. Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys street gang, convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 22 years in jail, was among those pardoned and set for release.
He also signed the US withdrawal from the Paris climate accords. In response, Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic former House speaker who was in that role on January 6, lamented “an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the constitution”.
“Could you imagine Biden doing this?” Trump said during the signing, to cheers. “I don’t think so.” At the Capitol, in remarks delivered after his inaugural address; at the Capital One Arena; and in back-and-forth with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump delivered rambling grievances and inaccurate claims including numerous repetitions of his lies about 2020. Even his formal inaugural address included attacks on political opponents.
He then left the arena to return to the White House to sign other orders. At the White House, Trump complained about Biden’s decision earlier in the day to issue preemptive pardons to members of the House January 6 committee, high-profile public officials who criticized Trump, and members of Biden’s own family, all believed at risk of political prosecution.
Earlier, in an inaugural address at the Capitol that was also moved indoors, Trump trailed orders he said would “begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense.” Trump said he was “surprised” Biden took such actions, “because that makes them look very guilty”. He did not issue such pardons to himself, allies and his family when he left power after January 6, he said, because it would have made him look guilty and ended his political career.
The address was delivered in the Capitol rotunda, a hallowed space through which Trump’s supporters rampaged to deadly effect four years ago. Trump signed a slew of other high-profile orders.
Back at the scene of so many crimes, having completed an astonishing political escape act, Trump first focused on executive orders concerning immigration. Among them was an order for the US to withdraw from the World Health Organization. On immigration, Trump declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border; designated criminal cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations”; and redefined birthright citizenship, a move against children of undocumented migrants born on US soil that contravenes the 14th amendment to the US constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on American soil.
“First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border,” he said. “All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.” Other measures included a recision of 78 Biden-era executive measures; a federal regulatory freeze “until we have full control of the government”; a freeze on all federal hiring except in the military and some other categories; and a requirement that federal workers return to full-time in-person work. Trump directed every department of government “to address the cost of living crisis”, and issued directives “preventing government censorship” and ordering the end of the “weaponization of the government against the adversaries of the previous administration”.
Crossings at the southern border are currently low, as a result of policies under Biden. The number of undocumented migrants on US soil convicted of one or more crimes does not run anywhere close to “millions and millions”. Undocumented migrants also offend at a lower rate than US citizens. Trump rescinded Biden’s removal of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, announced just last week, and removed Biden-era sanctions on Israeli settlers and entities in the West Bank. He told reporters he would impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico from 1 February.
“We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy,” Trump said, referring to a Covid-era measure lapsed under Biden. He also promised to “end the practice of catch and release” of undocumented migrants crossing the border and said he would “send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country”. The US Department of Defense was reported to have been planning such deployments. While talking to the press, Trump reached into the top drawer of the Resolute Desk and removed an envelope apparently containing a letter from Biden, traditional when presidents leave power, Biden having said that four years ago Trump left him a “shockingly gracious” note in his turn.
Trump was widely reported to be set to sign an order attempting to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented migrants – which is guaranteed by the 14th amendment to the US constitution and therefore not subject to removal by executive order. Back in the flow of invective, untruths and executive orders, Trump signed an order “unleashing Alaska’s energy potential for the entire nation”, related to his campaign promise to focus on fossil fuels and “drill, baby, drill.” He also signed a declaration of a “national energy emergency”.
Trump said: “We will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to US soil, including our cities and inner cities.” He revoked Biden orders which sought to reduce the use of private prisons, end the use of chokeholds in federal arrests and reduce the use of no-knock warrants. He signed an order “protecting women against radical gender ideologies”.
Shifting to domestic policy, Trump announced his order to his cabinet to “defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices”, later signed onstage. He would “declare a national energy emergency”, he said, adding a campaign-trail expression of support for fossil fuels: “We will drill, baby, drill.” He seemed particularly eager to sign an order delaying the federal ban on TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app, as mandated by a law passed last year. Trump told reporters his order gave him the right to close or sell an app his campaign used effectively last year, amid the push to ban the app on national security grounds, a push Trump once supported. The chief executive of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, attended Trump’s inaugural address.
Trump also said he would “end the Green New Deal” – an umbrella name for progressive environmental goals, rather than any laws passed under Biden – and outlined moves to end government support for electric vehicles. Trump also took shots at Biden and other opponents for supposedly failing to tackle climate disasters: in North Carolina, hit by Hurricane Helene, and in California, where Trump claimed without evidence that not “even a token of defense” had been mounted against devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. That setpiece was also moved indoors to escape the cold. Trump delivered his address in the Capitol rotunda, a hallowed space through which his supporters rampaged four years ago. Back at the scene of so many crimes, Trump completed an astonishing political escape act.
He promised to establish an External Revenue Service, to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens”; and to sign into being the “Department of Government Efficiency”, a cost-cutting effort championed by the tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key ally and donor. Musk’s project is already the subject of legal challenges. His national emergency at the southern border, he said, would halt “all illegal entry… [and] begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
Among other orders expected were a move to politicize thousands of federal government appointments, and the institution of a new travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. Crossings at the southern border are currently low, as a result of policies under Biden. The number of undocumented migrants on US soil convicted of crimes does not run anywhere close to “millions and millions”. Undocumented migrants also offend at a lower rate than US citizens.
Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, left Washington after hosting Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the White House. In his arena address, Trump performed a mocking impression of Biden, centered on his age. Biden is 82. Trump is 78. Regardless, Trump promised to “send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country” and added: “By invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to US soil, including our cities and inner cities.”
Trump has long been expected to issue pardons and acts of clemency to his supporters who attacked Congress on January 6. On Monday, it was reported that “blanket” pardons were on the way for non-violent offenses while sentences for more serious crimes would be commuted. Shifting to domestic policy, Trump said he would “end the Green New Deal” – an umbrella name for progressive environmental goals, rather than laws passed under Biden – and outlined moves to end government support for electric vehicles. He also took shots at Biden and other opponents for supposedly failing to tackle climate disasters in North Carolina, hit by Hurricane Helene, and in California, where Trump claimed without evidence that not “even a token of defense” had been mounted against devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
At the Capitol One Arena, after his truncated inaugural parade, Trump likened January 6 prisoners to “hostages” released under the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, who appeared onstage with him, and said: “Tonight, I’m going to be signing on the J6 hostages pardons, to get them out [of jail]. As soon as I leave, I’m going to the Oval Office, and we’ll be signing pardons for a lot of people, a lot of people.” Trump promised to establish an External Revenue Service, to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens”; and to establish the “Department of Government Efficiency”, a cost-cutting effort championed by the tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key ally and donor. Musk’s project is already the subject of legal challenges. On stage at the Capital One Arena, Musk appeared to give two fascist salutes.
In his inaugural address, Trump also looked to culture-war issues, saying his orders would “end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a society that is color-blind and merit-based.” It was a historic day but Trump did not always reach for solemn tones. Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, left Washington after hosting Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the White House. In his arena address, Trump performed a mocking impression of Biden, centered on his age. Biden is 82. Trump is 78.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female. This week, I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the Covid vaccine mandate with full back pay and I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty. It’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission: defeating America’s enemies.” In his inaugural address, Trump made outlandish promises: to “change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America”, to “take back” the Panama Canal, and to “launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars”.
Trump also promised to “change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America” and to “restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley”, the Alaskan peak known by its indigenous name, Denali, since 2016. The executive orders he signed offered more concrete evidence of his intentions in office.
Trump also promised to “take back” the Panama Canal and to “launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars”.
“Ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation,” he said.
The executive orders he signed and those on the way offered more concrete evidence of his intentions in office.
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