President Donald Trump wasted no time on his first day back in office, issuing a barrage of executive actions that swiftly overturned numerous policies from his predecessor, Joe Biden. These orders span immigration, national security, energy, and trade, reflecting Trump’s America First agenda and signaling the priorities of his second administration.
Pardons for January 6 Participants
True to his campaign promises, Trump granted pardons to around 1,500 individuals convicted or charged for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. Labeling the justice system under Biden as “weaponized,” he also directed federal prosecutors to drop cases against his supporters while vowing to end what he called politically motivated investigations.
Economy and TikTok
In a public ceremony at Capital One Arena, Trump signed a memorandum to combat inflation, emphasizing deregulation of oil and gas production as a solution. His administration is focusing on increased fossil fuel output in Alaska, repealing Biden-era restrictions.
Trump also paused Congress’ TikTok ban for 75 days, aiming to secure a deal that ensures national security while keeping the platform available to Americans. Additionally, tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports are set to rise, alongside unspecified plans targeting Chinese goods.
Immigration Crackdown
Trump reinstated policies targeting undocumented immigrants, reversing Biden’s narrowed deportation priorities and declaring everyone in the country illegally as subject to removal. He also announced plans to end birthright citizenship—a move likely to face significant legal challenges—and suspended the U.S. Refugee Admission Program pending a security review.
Other actions included the revival of policies forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico and the termination of the CBP One app, a Biden-era tool used to grant legal entry to migrants.
National Security Moves
Trump revoked security clearances for several high-profile figures, including former intelligence officials James Clapper, Leon Panetta, and John Bolton. He justified the move as necessary to “protect national security,” while critics see it as retaliation against past critics of his policies.
Climate, Energy, and Federal Overhauls
Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and declared an energy emergency, prioritizing domestic drilling and rolling back electric vehicle mandates. He also announced a federal hiring freeze and empowered the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to propose sweeping cuts across federal programs and agencies.
Symbolic Changes
In a nod to his base, Trump ordered the renaming of Denali back to Mount McKinley and the Gulf of Mexico to be referred to as the Gulf of America. He also mandated flags remain at full height on future Inauguration Days, a move spurred by his displeasure over flags at half-staff for former President Jimmy Carter.
* The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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