WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump during his first full day in office on Tuesday, defended his decision to grant clemency to those convicted of assaulting police officers during the 2021 Capitol attack and suggested there may be a place in American politics for the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, extremist groups whose leaders have been convicted of seditious conspiracy against the United States.
The president also continued to dismantle the government’s promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, known as DEI. The White House released a memo paid leave all federal personnel working on these efforts, with plans to lay them off soon. DEI trainings have also been canceled.
Trump’s actions are the latest step in his drive to restructure Washington and erase the work of President Joe Biden’s administration.
One of Trump’s priorities has been to help his supporters who besieged the Capitol on January 6, 2021, making their pardon his first official action once he returns to the White House after his inauguration on Monday.
Of the nearly 1,500 people pardoned by Trump, more than 200 have pleaded guilty to assaulting police. At least 140 police officers were injured in the riot – many of them beaten, bloodied and crushed by the crowd – as Trump supporters attempted to overturn Biden’s election victory.
Before the attack on the Capitol, the Proud Boys were a group best known for their street fights with anti-fascist activists when Trump infamously told the group to “stand back and stay there” during his first debate in 2020 with then-presidential candidate Biden.
The former senior manager of the group, Enrique Tarrioand three of his lieutenants were convicted of seditious conspiracy to commit a violent plot to prevent the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Trump to Biden after the 2020 election. Tarrio was serving a 22-year prison sentencethe longest-running Capitol riot case, before Trump granted him clemency on Monday. Some members of the group marched in Washington on Monday as Trump was sworn in for another term.
Asked by a reporter about the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers and whether there was a place for them in politics, Trump responded, “Well, we’ll have to see.” They were pardoned. I thought their sentences were ridiculous and excessive.
Trump spoke to reporters at the White House, highlighting an investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and declaring, “We’re back.”
“I think we’re going to do things that will shock people,” he said.
Asked about his decision to release from prison people who were filmed viciously attacking Capitol police officers, Trump said: “I am a friend of the police, more than any president who has ever held this office . »
The president said Tuesday he thought the sentences handed down for the actions that day were “ridiculous and excessive” and said, “These are people who really love our country, so we thought a pardon would be appropriate. »
Two major law enforcement groups, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police, issued a joint statement saying they are “deeply discouraged” by the pardons and commutations and believe that those found guilty should serve their entire sentence.
The president was also asked about his personal net worth benefiting from the launch of a new cryptocurrency token the day before he took office, and whether he would continue to sell products for his own benefit while in office.
“I don’t know much about it, other than I started it,” he said. “I heard it was very successful. I haven’t checked it. Where is he today?
Trump had opened his first full day back in office by demonstrating one of his favorite expressions of power: firing people.
The new president announced Tuesday on his Truth social network that he would fire more than 1,000 presidential appointees “who are not aligned with our vision,” including some high-profile names.
Trump fired chef and humanitarian José Andrés from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, retired Gen. Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, former State Department official Brian Hook from the council of directors of the Wilson Center and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. of the Presidential Export Council.
“YOU ARE FIRED!” ” Trump said in his message – his catchphrase from his reality TV show, “The Apprentice.”
AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports that President Trump heard a call during a church service capping four days of inauguration-related events.
Andrés and Bottoms disputed Trump’s claim that they were fired, saying in social media posts that they had already tendered their resignations.
Biden also removed numerous Trump appointees during his first days in office, including former press secretary Sean Spicer from the board overseeing the U.S. Naval Academy.
Three great business leaders – CEO of SoftBank Group Son MasayoshiSam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Larry Ellison, chairman of Oracle Corp., joined Trump Tuesday afternoon to announce the creation of a new company called Stargate, which would invest up to $500 billion over the next four years in AI infrastructure, according to the White House. .
Initial plans for Stargate, with construction beginning in Texas, date back to Biden’s time in office. Tech media outlet The Information reported on the project in March 2024.
Trump also attended a national prayer service Tuesday morning at the Washington National Cathedral, a customary visit for new presidents and capping four days of inauguration-related events.
One of the speakers at the interfaith service, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, used her sermon to send a message to Trump, calling for compassion for LGBTQ+ people and undocumented migrant workers.
“You felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people of our country who are afraid right now,” said Budde, who has previously criticized Trump.
Asked afterward by a reporter what he thought of the service, Trump responded: “It wasn’t very exciting. I didn’t think it was good service. They could do much better.
Later in the day, the president met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and other Republican lawmakers. It was the first formal meeting of GOP leadership teams, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso and the new president, as they outlined priorities for using the Republican power in Washington.
It was more of a date than a marriage, a person familiar with the private meeting said, and requested anonymity to discuss it.
Trump has floated many ideas about future priorities — for tax cuts, disaster aid, regulatory reforms and the March deadline to fund the government — without any clear preferences for their different strategies, but only so that they get the job done. Political advisors Stephen Miller and James Braid joined the discussion.
GOP leaders received chocolate chip cookies and commemorative coins.
After the meeting, Senate Republicans threatened to withhold nominations to install Trump’s Cabinet. Thune pushed for a quick confirmation, but Trump demanded that Republicans prepare to suspend the Senate, allowing Trump to nominate his picks to Cabinet positions without Senate confirmation.
Trump mused Tuesday that the Los Angeles wildfires would give Republicans leverage with Democrats in budget negotiations because Los Angeles is “going to need a lot of money.” And generally speaking, I think you’ll find that a lot of Democrats are going to be asking for help.”
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Will Weissert, Darlene Superville, Josh Boak and Tiffany Stanley in Washington, Jill Colvin in New York and Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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This story has been updated to correct Trump’s quote about the prayer service.