Donald Trump is wasting no time in his second term as president, promising a “golden age of America” and taking swift action through a series of executive orders. These orders aim to tackle a wide range of issues, from immigration to energy production to the federal workforce.
One of the most controversial moves Trump made on his first day back in office was to pardon 1,500 individuals involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. This decision has sparked backlash and legal challenges, but Trump remains steadfast in his actions.
On the immigration front, Trump is cracking down on illegal border crossings and birthright citizenship. He has declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and plans to end birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the 14th Amendment. These actions have already been met with legal challenges from Democratic attorneys general.
In terms of energy policy, Trump is focused on increasing domestic energy production by declaring a “national energy emergency.” He aims to undo many of the clean-energy policies put in place by the Biden administration and has announced the U.S. will once again withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.
When it comes to the federal workforce, Trump is implementing changes that will require all government employees to return to the office and end remote accommodations. He has also removed job protections for thousands of government workers, citing the need to rein in bureaucracy.
In the realm of health policy, Trump is taking a hardline stance on gender identity by instructing agencies to remove “nonbinary” options from federal documents. He has also signed an executive order to remove the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
On the trade front, Trump has directed federal agencies to investigate trade deficits and unfair practices, but has not yet enacted new tariffs. He plans to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada and establish an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and revenues from foreign nations.
In addition to these key actions, Trump has also extended the deadline for TikTok to be divested or banned, suspended U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days, and renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. He has also promised to restore Mount Denali in Alaska to its original name, Mount McKinley.
Overall, Trump’s second term is off to a controversial and action-packed start, with the president making bold moves to reshape America in his vision of a “golden age.”
