Trump Sparks Political Turmoil Domestically and Internationally

Trump Sparks Political Turmoil Domestically and Internationally

WASHINGTON:
On the first day of his new term, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders addressing various issues, from climate policies to immigration reforms, alongside granting pardons to many involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

Some of these orders fulfilled promises made during the 2024 campaign, while others, such as withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), came as a surprise.

Below is a summary of the key actions taken by Trump at a Washington rally filled with supporters and later at the White House after his inauguration.

Trump took steps to reshape immigration and citizenship policies in the U.S. One notable measure was the declaration of a national emergency along the southern border. Additionally, Trump unveiled plans for a large-scale deportation initiative, involving military forces to target individuals he referred to as “criminal aliens.”

In the Oval Office, Trump signed an order revoking birthright citizenship, a controversial move given that automatic U.S. citizenship for those born in the country is guaranteed by the Constitution, making the decision likely to face legal challenges.

The president also issued pardons for over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, calling those convicted or pleading guilty over the riots “hostages.”

Trump rolled back several executive orders focused on diversity and LGBTQ equality, aligning with his campaign’s opposition to “woke” culture. He reversed measures aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the federal government, businesses, healthcare, and the rights of LGBTQ Americans. Furthermore, he declared that the U.S. government would recognize only two genders: male and female.

Trump signed an order to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement once more, mirroring his first-term decision to reject global efforts to address climate change. This order triggers a year-long process to formally exit the agreement after notifying the United Nations.

The president also declared a “national energy emergency” aimed at significantly ramping up drilling within the U.S., emphasizing his commitment to fossil fuel expansion. “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump proclaimed during his inauguration speech.

Another executive order mandated that federal employees return to their offices full-time, reversing the work-from-home trend that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump also signed an order to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization, citing the argument that the U.S. was unfairly contributing more financially than China.

In addition, he delayed a law that would effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. by imposing a 75-day pause on enforcement. The law, which went into effect this week, prohibits updates and distribution of TikTok within the country.

The president lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank accused of abuses against Palestinians, reversing a move taken by President Bidenโ€™s administration. He also reinstated Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, undoing Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from the list following a prisoner release agreement.

These actions reflect Trumpโ€™s continued efforts to reverse several policies from his previous term and to cement his political agenda in his second term.

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