President signs executive orders on slew of issues on his first full day
By: Marina Pitofsky
Rebecca Morin
and Zac Anderson
USA Today
..... President Donald Trump kicked of his first full day in office Tuesday [01/21/2025] with a wave of executive actions and orders and a push to get his top Cabinet officials confirmed.
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The 45th turned 47th president's new term was pedal down from the outset. He signing his first wave of executive orders around 7 PM. EST Monday, [01/20/2025] after his swearing-in ceremony and a parade, and just before the evening's inaugural balls that stretched well past midnight.
..... At a signing event attended by the press and carried live on CNN and Fox News, he started by rescinding 78 executive orders approved by former President Joe Biden, including efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, protect federal lands from oil drilling and reduce the cost of prescription medications. Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border; issued a sweeping pardon for nearly everyone convicted in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Riot; gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve; and signed dozens more executive orders overhauling how the country deals with the economy, global health and gender.
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He froze additional regulations until he has more control of the vast federal government, which he aims to fill with political appointees. he then put a freeze on hiring for federal jobs.
..... Around the same time, the Senate gave Trump an immediate win with the decisive confirmation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the first of Trump's Cabinet picks to secure his job. the confirmation hearing of Elise Stefanik, Trump's pick as the U's. ambassador at the United Nations, began Tuesday [01/21/2025] morning.
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A small but meaningful moment happened at Monday's [01/20/2025] executive order signing when one reporter asked if Biden had left a letter for him, a ritual for departing American leaders.
..... "He may have," Trump said, seeming unsure. "Wait, don't they leave it in the desk?"
..... He opened a drawer in the Resolute Desk and found the sealed letter, holding it up and musing about reading it together with the assembled media before thinking better of it.
..... The letter discovery was trivial compared to the avalanche of executive orders aimed at dramatically reorienting federal policy. But it illustrated the unscripted, unpredictable nature of the new president, in stark contrast to a predecessor who was known to be tightly stage managed. It's a contrast Trump's team was eager to tout Monday [01/20/2025] as evidence of a new ear of transparency.
..... "Did Biden do news conferences like this?" Trump mused in what seemed to be a rhetorical question that jabbed at Biden's unwillingness to regularly engage the media, especially toward the end of his presidency, a stand-in for questions about his age and mental fitness.
..... Trump is known for rambling press conferences, and Monday [01/20/2025] was no different, with the dawn of his second administration giving off some of the same reality television show vibes of his first.
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He contemplated sending military special force into Mexico to fight drug cartels - "Could happen. stranger things have happened," he said. Then the real estate developer-turned-president talked about authoritarian North Korea as having "tremendous condo capability" and war-torn Gaza as a "phenomenal location."
..... "On the sea, the best weather,: he said. "Beautiful insight could be done with it."
..... Between asides about development potential in some of the most challenged places on earth, Trump discussed a number of polices his administration could soon deploy as he signed executive orders, the fastest way for a president to way to start implementing goals. Trump said he's targeting February 1 [2025] to put 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico. that would have major economic repercussions.
..... On the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, trump said he was "not confident" it will hold.
..... On Greenland, the Danish territory Trump covets, he declared, "We need it for international security and I'm sure that Denmark will come along."
..... Trump said billionaire Elon Musk a close adviser, won't have an office in the West Wing but 20 people who are working with him at the new Department of Government Efficiency will.
..... The event even saw Trump direct his new White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, to figure out what's happening with the drones that have regularly been spotted over New Jersey at night. He seemed to be intrigued by the issue, noting drones have been seen over his estate in Bedminster.
..... "I would like to find out what it is and tell the people," Trump said, adding: "Could we find out what that was Susie? OK? Yeah, why don't we find out - immediately."
..... On Tuesday, [01/21/2025] Trump was expected to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, the GOP leaders charged with helping turn his agenda into law, while navigating ultra-thin margins in both chambers.
..... "Republicans are hard at work on our legislative priorities," Thune told Trump during a speech at the inaugural luncheon Monday, [01/20/2025] including :extending tax relief for American families, lifting burdensome Biden administration regulations, building up our military and securing our border."
..... Lawmakers also face the challenge of dealing with the debt limit, which was expected to be met on Tuesday. [01/21/2025]
..... Johnson has said he wants to pass a massive bill for GOP priorities by April. [2025]In the meantime, the majority is moving forward on legislation that meets its goals and can get Democratic support. The Senate finalized The Laken Riley Act
on Monday [01/20/2025] night, which would require Mitigation and Customs Enforcement to detain non-citizens who commit certain crimes. It is expected to become the first law of this Congress.