New president Donald Trump signed several sweeping executive orders Monday night, including abandoning the Paris climate accord, requiring all federal workers to return to work in person and rolling back dozens of Biden-era initiatives.
Joined by him and the vice-president J.D. VanceOn stage at Capital One Arena, Trump assured the convicted Jan. 6 rioters, whom he called “hostages,” that he would sign their pardons later that evening. The president is expected to continue signing executive orders Monday evening and in the coming days targeting immigration, transgender rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures.
While signing the executive orders on stage, Trump lowered the microphone and said, “Can you imagine Biden doing that? I don’t think so!” Trump’s choice to hold this initial signing ceremony in a sports arena rather than, say, the Oval Office, reflects the theatrical flair he has cultivated in politics since his infamous escalator ride nearly a decade ago The rally looked like a political rally, with MAGA icons like it. billionaire Elon Musk take center stage in front of Trump, who crossed familiar grievances and resentments with perceived enemies.
“Did everyone hear my speech?” Trump asked the arena crowd. Did you like my speech? They applauded.
Hours earlier, standing in the rotunda of the United States Capitol, a just-sworn Trump detailed what his first actions as president would be. From a brutal crackdown on immigration to a regressive understanding of gender, Trump stressed a conservative remaking of American life– a situation that could particularly harm undocumented immigrants, transgender people and women.
During his inaugural address, Trump pledged to declare a national emergency at the southern border, announced he would designate cartels as terrorist groups and rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. As for his energy policy, Trump pledged to “do a little exercise.” The president also said he would bring free speech, as he defines it, back to the United States; he talked about putting an American flag on Mars; promised to take dominion over the Panama Canal; and exclaimed that the United States would only recognize two genders. The president also said, after criticizing his political enemies and demonizing immigrants, that he hoped to be remembered as a “peacemaker” and a “unifier.”
As Trump supporters in attendance roared with applause, former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill ClintonAnd George Bush, however, he sat down sternly. Kamala Harris, Douglas Emhoff, Jill Biden, Laura BushAnd Hillary Clinton also sat behind the new president, rarely clapping. (They all stood and applauded when Trump spoke about the release of the hostages following the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.)
Here are some of the measures his administration has already adopted and what it plans to do in the coming days:
Immigration
Minutes after Trump took office, his administration close Customs and Border Protection’s CBP One mobile app, which helps migrants make appointments at the U.S.-Mexico border. In doing so, they canceled all outstanding appointments made by visa-free migrants hoping to enter legally.