What decrees did Trump sign on his first day in the White House

Tengrinews.kz - US President Donald Trump signed his first decrees after officially taking office.

Forming his cabinet

The first document Trump signed after his inauguration confirmed 22 cabinet members and cabinet-level positions. The second appointed 47 deputy secretaries and other senior officials. Another document contained 31 temporary appointments, and a fourth concerned 15 chairmen and acting chairmen of various commissions.

The president must also confirm Marco Rubio as secretary of state after the Senate voted on his nomination.

Reversal of Biden's decisions

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing 78 decisions made under his predecessor Joe Biden. This was announced at the new head of state's rally in Washington after the inauguration. Among other things, the US President returned Cuba's status as a state sponsor of terrorism, reversing a recent decision by his predecessor Joe Biden.

The president also introduced a regulatory moratorium prohibiting federal agencies from issuing new regulations until the new administration establishes full control over the work of the government.

The White House reported that Trump also signed an executive order holding former government officials (that is, members of the Biden administration) accountable for illegally disclosing sensitive information.

Fight against illegal migrants

Among other things, Trump signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency on the southern border of the United States. The president called this decision very serious. The document will allow the White House to have additional powers and resources for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. In particular, the US authorities will be able to use the army to protect the border from migrants.

In addition, the president ordered the construction of a new section of the wall on the border with Mexico. The decree will also end the practice of parole of migrants for violating laws. In addition, Trump signed an order that restricts the acquisition of US citizenship by birthright.

Donald Trump also signed an order after which drug cartels acquired the status of terrorist organizations. To combat them, special task forces will be created from among the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).

Pardoning supporters

Donald Trump has signed an executive order pardoning about 1500 people convicted of storming the Capitol in January 2021, according to the president himself, who stormed the Capitol four years ago after Biden’s victory.

The commutation applies to the sentences of 14 members of the far-right Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who were convicted or charged with inciting insurrection. Trump has granted full pardons to hundreds of people already convicted of felonies, such as assaulting police and destroying property as part of efforts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

According to the latest Justice Department estimates, more than 730 people have been convicted of offenses related to January 6. In addition, as of Monday, about 300 cases are still pending in court.

Trade and foreign policy

Among the unsigned but announced documents is the introduction of 25% trade tariffs against Mexico and Canada, starting February 1. This step will be an extraordinary change in North American trade policy, since both of these countries are the largest trading partners of the United States.

American media note that last year the United States imported goods worth 475 billion dollars from Mexico and 418 billion dollars from Canada, which together amounted to 30% of the value of all goods exported by the United States last year.

Regarding the 60% tariffs on China and 20% on all other countries, Trump said that he could accept such a document, but is not ready for it yet.

The president also said that he could stop importing oil from Venezuela, since, according to him, there is enough oil in the States.

Withdrawal from international organizations

One of Trump's first decisions was to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization. The order cited the organization's "mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states" as reasons for leaving the WHO. According to Trump, the United States pays the WHO too much money.

Trump also signed an order to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement again. The agreement, which was adopted on December 12, 2015, by 200 countries requires participants to reduce emissions. The United States government officially withdrew from the agreement on November 4, 2019. After US President Joe Biden took office, the country rejoined it. Biden set a goal for the United States to reduce climate pollution by 66 percent by 2035 compared to 2005 levels.

Renaming and the fate of TikTok

Among other documents signed by Trump on his first day was an executive order that delays the ban on TikTok for 75 days. The action instructs the US Department of Justice not to enforce the Controlled Foreign Apps Act, which was passed with broad bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law in April by former President Joe Biden. The law requires that TikTok be banned in the US as of January 19, unless it is sold to a buyer from the US or one of its allies.

The document says that the 75-day delay will help the Trump administration try to "determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans."

Donald Trump also signed a directive ordering the restoration of free speech and the prevention of government censorship.

Trump has also taken executive action against the names of US landmarks, including renaming Denali and the Gulf of Mexico. The order specifically calls for renaming the country's highest peak, Alaska's Denali, which President Barack Obama renamed in 2015 from Mount McKinley. The Gulf of Mexico is also set to be renamed the Gulf of America.

Donald Trump officially took office as the President of the United States on January 20, taking the oath of office at the inauguration ceremony. For the first time in 40 years, it took place not on the steps of the Capitol, but inside the building.