- Trump reverses Joe Biden’s policies
- Pardons 1,600 people convicted over 2021 Capitol riot
- Promises “a new golden age for America”
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on 20 January, 2025 and he started his second term in office by signing a stack of executive orders, just as he promised he would.
Within hours of returning to The White House, Trump reversed some of his predecessor Joe Biden’s policies and pardoned people convicted over the 2021 Capitol riot.
An executive order is a written order issued by the president to the federal government which does not require approval from congress. Instead, they are issued based on the president’s authority under the U.S. Constitution or statutory law.
Planting the stars and stripes on Mars aside, here are some of Trump’s first acts – including topics of climate, illegal immigration, the death penalty, and TikTok – which he says will help forge “a new golden age for America”:
Free Speech
Trump signed an executive order that he said aims to restore freedom of speech and prevent censorship of free speech.
According to Trump and his Republican allies, the Joe Biden administration suppressed speech on social media platforms.
This has been met with some criticism as over the years Trump has threatened and sued his critics over comments they have made about him.
TikTok
Trump signed an order delaying the federal ban on Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, by 75 days.
The platform had briefly gone dark before the inauguration, but Trump reversed it stating the order gives him the right to “sell it or close it”.
Read more: TikTok’s back… after just 14 hours
TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew was present at Trump’s inaugural address.
2021 Capitol Riot
Trump issued pardons for the nearly 1,600 Trump supporters who were charged over the 6 January, 2021 riot at the US Capitol.
At least 600 were charged with assaulting or impeding federal officers, but Trump has repeatedly referred to those arrested in the riot as hostages.
He also pardoned far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Death Penalty
Trump signed an order on the death penalty, directing the attorney general to “take all necessary and lawful action” to ensure that states have enough lethal injection drugs to carry out executions.
Only three defendants remain on federal death row after former Democratic President Joe Biden recently converted 37 of their sentences to life in prison.
Trump’s administration carried out 13 federal executions during his first term, more than under any president in modern history.
Illegal Immigration
In his inaugural address, Trump vowed that “all illegal entry will be halted” and that millions of “criminal aliens” would be deported.
He said “America’s sovereignty is under attack” and has declared it a national emergency at the southern border. This will allow Trump to free up more funding to reinforce the border with Mexico.
Trump also ordered the Pentagon to deploy troops to the US-Mexico to help build additional barriers.
Climate
Trump withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement once again – it was reversed by Biden after Trump withdrew the US his first term. He will have to wait for a year for this to happen, but the move threatens the central goal of the agreement to avoid a rise in global temperatures and distances the US from allies.
Read more: The internet reacts to Melania Trump’s inauguration hat
While the first Trump-led withdrawal from the landmark UN agreement – adopted by 196 nations – shocked and angered nations across the globe, “not a single country followed the US out the door,” said Alden Meyer, a longtime climate negotiations analyst with the European think tank E3G.
Trump remarked, “I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off. The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”
Energy
“Drill, baby, drill” were Trump’s words in his inaugural address. He signed an order to accelerate permitting of oil, gas and power projects, declaring another national emergency.
Biden had barred oil drilling in 16 million acres in the Arctic, but Trump has promised to fill up oil reserves and export US energy to all over the world.
He also signed an executive order pledging to unlock oil, gas and other natural resources from Alaska, adding, “We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it”.
The World Health Organisation
Trump signed an order that begins the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), stating, “China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO.”
This marks the second time Trump has ordered the US be pulled out of the WHO, after Biden re-entered it.
If you’re looking to see a full rundown of Trump’s presidential actions, The White House publishes executive orders issued by the current administration.
