The world eagerly awaited Donald Trump's first actions as president.
And they didn’t have to wait long; on the very first day, he was already busy signing laws and executive orders.
His actions ranged from sweeping pardons to overturning international agreements and implementing domestic political reforms.
Several of his decisions have sparked intense debate and division, both politically and among the public.
He Withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization
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Trump decided to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization, a move seen as a consequence of his criticism of the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts fear this decision will harm the U.S.'s role as a global health leader and weaken efforts to combat future pandemics.
He Temporarily Halted All Foreign Development Aid
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Trump implemented a temporary freeze on all foreign development aid, set to last for 90 days. It is part of the "America First" approach.
However, he has not ruled out that this period could be extended if deemed necessary.
He Imposed a Hiring Freeze in the Public Sector
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Trump initiated a temporary hiring freeze in the federal government until a plan to reduce the workforce could be developed.
The measure also included specific restrictions for the IRS, which had received increased funding under the previous administration.
He Pardoned Nearly All Capitol Rioters from January 6
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Donald Trump issued a sweeping pardon to nearly all of the approximately 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol riot in January 2021.
This included commuted sentences for 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
He also directed the Department of Justice to dismiss all pending charges against those involved.
He Announced Tariffs on Canada and Mexico
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Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico in response to what he called a lack of control over drugs and migration.
He also mentioned the possibility of universal tariffs on all imported goods.
He Withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement
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Trump decided to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, placing the country among the few nations not participating in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The decision was widely criticized by environmental advocates and international partners.
He Proposed Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America"
He Proposed Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America"
Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "The American Gulf."
The change is planned to take effect within 30 days.
He Attempted to Delay the TikTok Ban
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Trump signed an executive order to delay the federal ban on TikTok.
He instructed the attorney general to hold off on enforcing the ban for 75 days while the possibility of a deal for the app's future is explored.
He also stated that the U.S. should receive a portion of the value from any potential TikTok deal.
He Tightened Immigration Measures
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Through a series of executive orders, Trump introduced measures to enhance border control and restrict migration.
Among other things, he declared a national emergency to deploy the military to the border and proposed ending birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens.
Several of these initiatives challenge legal boundaries, especially since birthright citizenship is rooted in the Constitution.
He Eliminated Policies for Racial Equality and Transgender Protections
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Trump ordered the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
He also rolled back several policies from the previous administration that aimed to protect transgender individuals and promote equality.
