The new US President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office with a heavy dose of presidential executive orders. It seems that it is of utmost importance for the Republican to distinguish himself from the Biden administration. He canceled 78 executive orders of his predecessor.
Here is what else Trump signed in the first hours of his second term:
State of emergency on the Mexican border
Trump declared a state of emergency on the border with Mexico and sent the army there. He also temporarily canceled all scheduled interviews for asylum applications through the CBP One application.
Trump threatens to deport millions of illegal immigrants from the US. He also declared war on the cartels.
Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement
The decision will take effect in a year. During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement, but that lasted only a few months, as Joe Biden brought the country back into the international agreement signed by 195 countries. So far, no other member has withdrawn.
Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO)
"Oh, this is serious", Trump said as he signed the order withdrawing the United States FROM the WHO. According to the new president, the World Health Organization has not handled the coronavirus pandemic and other health crises well enough. In addition, according to Trump, the WHO has demanded too much money from the United States.
Washington is the organization's largest donor and provides about 18% of its total funding. Back in July 2020, Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from the WHO and stopped funding, but Biden reversed this decision a few months later.
Pardon for hundreds of those who stormed the Capitol
About 1,500 Trump supporters are under investigation, charged or have already been convicted for their participation in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Now all of them have been pardoned by Trump. "These are hostages", he said when signing the documents in the Oval Office.
According to the decree, the sentences of 14 convicts who are already considered to have served their sentences will also be shortened. These are members of the right-wing extremist organizations "Proud Boys" and "Oath Keepers", who were accused of particularly serious crimes.
End of citizenship for those born in the United States
Trump signed a presidential decree that would take away the right of people born in the United States to automatically receive citizenship. However, it is written into the country's constitution. Trump claims that this should not apply if the mother entered the country illegally or is only in the United States temporarily.
Several human rights organizations have already announced that they will oppose the decree in court. If the decision reaches the Supreme Court, it could interpret the Constitution differently. So far, the Supreme Court has not distinguished between whether the parents of a child who has been granted citizenship came to the United States legally or not. However, during Trump's first term, he appointed three conservative justices to the Constitutional Court, significantly tilting the scales in his favor.
TikTok remains active - for now
Trump also signed an executive order giving TikTok another 75 days to find a buyer in the United States before it must cease operations in the country. However, the Chinese company categorically refuses to sell 50% of its business in America, which is the requirement.
Energy emergency and suspension of development aid
In order to significantly increase domestic energy production, Trump declared an energy emergency. The aim is to simplify the extraction of oil, gas, but also uranium, coal and critical raw materials and to speed up approval procedures, for example for the construction of pipelines. The measure is intended to help reduce energy costs for consumers and industry.
Trump also ordered a 90-day pause in US aid to foreign countries until its effectiveness is assessed.
Cuba, death penalty, end of global minimum tax
Joe Biden recently decided to remove Cuba from the US list of states that sponsor terrorism. Now Trump is reversing that decision. According to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Trump's decision is "arrogant” but not surprising. According to him, it is this decision, as well as the embargo imposed on the country by the US, that motivates Cubans to try to emigrate to the United States.
Since 2021, the US has had a moratorium on federal executions - now Trump has ordered the death penalty to be carried out in all states.
Trump also announced that the Global Minimum Corporate Tax Agreement will no longer apply to the United States. It was concluded in 2021 by the Biden administration and provided for a minimum tax rate of 15%. The agreement is primarily intended to prevent international corporations from shifting their profits to tax havens, and nearly 140 countries have joined it.
Stopping sanctions against Israeli settlers
The United States has imposed sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank, who are accused of violence against Palestinians. Trump is reversing this decision. Israeli settlers are celebrating his election because they believe he will support illegal settlements.
In his first term, Trump took unprecedented steps in support of Israel by declaring Jerusalem the capital of the country and moving the US embassy there.
Only two genders
Trump also issued an executive order declaring that the US will recognize only "two genders - male and female". The order will affect the government's transgender policy, their civil rights and federal funding. It will also affect official documents such as passports and visas.
"American Gulf"
Trump ordered the Secretary of the Interior to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "American Gulf".
Tariffs likely to be imposed from February 1
Some observers expected Trump to immediately impose new tariffs on imports in the first hours of his second term. However, this did not happen. The US president said he was considering doing so from February 1. He threatened Mexico and Canada with tariffs of 25%.
Mina Kirkova (editor)