President Donald Trump wasted no time signing off on several executive orders seeking to make good on his campaign promises and undo the legacy of his predecessor Joe Biden, including the pardoning of January 6 defendants and a crackdown on immigration to the US.
Here is a list of the actions taken by the newly sworn-in president:
Trump’s executive order pardons January 6 rioters
Trump issued “full, complete and unconditional” presidential pardons for about 1,500 people who were involved in the January 6 attack on Congress, including some convicted of violent acts, making good on his promise to act in such cases on day one of his second term.
“This is a big one. We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” Trump said while signing the pardons in the Oval Office on Monday night after he referred to those convicted as “hostages.”
Among those pardoned is Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison on seditious conspiracy charges. Trump also commuted the sentence of Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers militia, who had been sentenced to 18 years in prison on sedition charges.
Revokes birthright citizenship, declares emergency on Mexico border
He signed an executive order seeking to revoke birthright citizenship—automatic citizenship for people born in the US—for the children of undocumented immigrants. Birthright citizenship is protected by the 14th amendment and the order will almost certainly be challenged in court.
One order declared a “national emergency” at the southern border, paving the way to send US troops to the area and another designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Executive orders on US aid, WHO and climate accords
He signed an executive order declaring a 90-day pause in the disbursement of US foreign development assistance, effectively leaving millions of dollars of aid in limbo, dependent on a decision by Marco Rubio, who was confirmed as secretary of state by the Senate.
He signed an executive order to, for a second time, withdraw the US from the Paris climate accords. He also declared a national energy emergency as part of a barrage of pro-fossil fuel actions and efforts to “unleash” already booming US energy production.
Another order will remove the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). “World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen any more,” Trump said at the signing. The withdrawal of the US would dramatically cut funding for the global public health organization.
LGBTQ+ rights and Gulf of America
He issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to revoke the use of “gender” and “gender identity” and instead use a binary definition of “sex” in implementing policy—including in issuing passports, a move that LGBTQ+ rights groups have vowed to challenge in court.
Another order reclassified thousands of federal employees as political hires, making it much easier for them to be fired. Key aides to Trump have called for mass government firings. Project 2025 made attacks on the deep or administrative state a core part of Trump’s second term.
One order renamed the 617,800 sq mile Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s 20,000ft Denali. The Gulf of Mexico will be renamed the Gulf of America, and Denali, the highest mountain in North America, will revert to Mount McKinley, which it was called before Barack Obama changed the name in 2015. The order will have no bearing on what names are used internationally.
Trump also signed an executive order temporarily delaying the enforcement of a federal ban on TikTok for at least 75 days. “I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok that I didn’t have originally,” Trump said at the White House.
On trade, the US president punted on a campaign pledge to issue tariffs on Canada and Mexico on day one of his new administration. However, he said he would issue the new tariffs on the North American neighbors on 1 February.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
