On his inaugural day, Donald Trump signed nearly one hundred executive orders, emphasizing immigration restrictions, environmental rollbacks, and gender policy changes. He declared a national emergency at the southern border, ended asylum scheduling for migrants in Mexico, and announced plans to deport “criminal foreigners.” Trump also withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, reinstated Schedule F for civil servant dismissals, pardoned many Capitol rioters, and ordered changes to geographical names, reflecting a significant policy shift in his administration.
Trump’s Executive Actions: A Flurry of Orders on Inauguration Day
On his first day in office, Donald Trump made headlines by signing an unprecedented number of executive orders. Late into the evening, he was busy in the Oval Office, signing document after document while fielding questions from a crowd of journalists. These nearly one hundred orders primarily focused on tightening immigration policies, rolling back environmental protections and labor regulations, and dismantling “woke” gender policies within the administration. Additionally, Trump granted pardons to many convicted Capitol rioters, marking a significant shift in his administration’s approach.
Immigration and Energy Policy Changes
During his campaign, Trump had cheekily remarked, “I will only be a dictator on the first day in office,” signaling his intention to take bold actions. With a focus on border security and increased oil production, he declared a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico. This declaration paves the way for his administration to pursue aggressive immigration and energy policies. In his inauguration speech, Trump emphasized his plans to deploy military forces to the southern border to combat what he called an “invasion” of migrants.
One of the major changes includes the termination of the app that allowed asylum seekers in Mexico to schedule appointments with U.S. immigration authorities, forcing refugees to await their lengthy asylum processes in Mexico—a policy known as “Remain in Mexico.” Furthermore, Trump announced the intent to deport “millions of criminal foreigners,” although the specifics of how he will carry out these orders remain uncertain.
In a move to boost domestic oil production, Trump rescinded restrictions on drilling in Alaska that had been imposed by the previous administration. He also declared the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, echoing decisions from his first term. During a press conference, he expressed his opposition to the promotion of wind energy and also announced plans to eliminate subsidies for electric vehicle purchases.
Despite these sweeping changes, questions linger regarding the necessity of such measures. The Biden administration had already tightened immigration policies, and with Mexico’s cooperation, illegal crossings have significantly decreased. Additionally, U.S. oil production is currently at record levels, raising doubts about the perceived energy crisis.
Trump also took aim at gender identity policies, stating that the federal government would recognize only two genders: male and female. This move would reverse advancements made under the Biden administration that allowed individuals to select a third gender option on passports.
Among other controversial actions, Trump reinstated “Schedule F,” enabling him to dismiss civil servants he deems insufficiently loyal. He also made headlines by pardoning numerous Capitol rioters, including members of extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, effectively absolving over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.
While Trump positioned these pardons as a remedy for a “terrible national injustice,” he continued to attack political opponents and expressed intentions to investigate alleged abuses of power under the Biden administration. However, he chose not to impose higher tariffs on foreign trading partners, a promise he had campaigned on, though he hinted at reconsidering tariffs on Canada and Mexico in the near future.
In a surprising twist, Trump ordered changes to geographical names, declaring that the Gulf of Mexico will henceforth be called the Gulf of America. Additionally, he mandated that the highest mountain in the U.S. revert to its former name, Mount McKinley, a name reflecting a shift away from Indigenous heritage back to historical recognition of a former president.