Donald Trump took swift and controversial actions just hours after being sworn in for his second term on Monday. Among his first acts was the pardon of approximately 1,500 supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. This decision has sparked outrage among police, lawmakers, and others affected by the violent assault, which left four people dead and 140 police officers injured. Included in the pardons were 14 leaders of the far-right Oath Keepers and Proud Boys groups, though their convictions remain intact.
Trump took the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, the site of the infamous riot four years earlier. During his inaugural address, he cast himself as a divinely chosen leader tasked with restoring America’s greatness, declaring, “I was saved by God to make America great again.” His return to the White House is historic, marking the first time in more than a century that a president has reclaimed the office after losing it. Trump is also the first convicted felon to hold the presidency.
In his first hours as president, Trump enacted sweeping policy changes. He declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, paving the way for troop deployment, and dismantled programs that allowed migrants to schedule legal entry appointments through smartphone apps. He also suspended refugee programs, stranding thousands of Afghans cleared for resettlement in the U.S. This included family members of active-duty military personnel. Trump further signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship, setting the stage for a legal battle over the Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment.
Environmental regulations enacted by the previous administration were swiftly reversed as Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time in a decade. He also rolled back policies promoting artificial intelligence and electric vehicles and announced the creation of a “Department of Government Efficiency” to oversee major spending cuts, chaired by billionaire Elon Musk. Additionally, federal diversity programs were dismantled, and gender recognition policies were restricted to birth assignments.
Despite calling for unity in his speech, Trump’s rhetoric was sharply partisan. Seated alongside outgoing President Joe Biden, Trump criticized his predecessor for prioritizing foreign borders over American security. Prominent tech leaders, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, were seated prominently at the inauguration, signaling alignment with the new administration’s agenda. Musk enthusiastically cheered Trump’s pledge to send astronauts to Mars, a project long championed by the SpaceX CEO.
On the international front, Trump made bold and controversial announcements, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and asserting U.S. control over the Panama Canal. These moves have already raised concerns among U.S. allies and are expected to impact diplomatic relations.
Trump’s return to power comes after surviving two assassination attempts and navigating a criminal conviction and multiple prosecutions. With Republican majorities in Congress, his administration is positioned to enact sweeping reforms. Outgoing President Biden, in one of his final acts, issued pardons to several individuals, including General Mark Milley, whom Trump had criticized, and five family members, citing fears of retaliation.
As Trump begins his second term, his polarizing policies and rhetoric promise to dominate the political landscape, ensuring that his presidency will remain as contentious as ever.