On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, marking his second term in office after his initial presidency ended in 2021. His inauguration ceremony drew fervent supporters to Washington, D.C., where he outlined his vision to “restore American greatness.” However, within mere hours of taking office, President Trump made decisions and statements that quickly became the subject of national and international scrutiny.
Rapid Executive Orders Mark a Bold Start
Trump wasted no time asserting his presidential authority, signing a slew of executive orders immediately following his inauguration. These orders, legally binding directives to federal agencies that bypass congressional approval, aimed to undo key policies of the previous administration. One of the most notable actions was his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, a global pact to combat climate change. This marked a stark reversal of the Biden administration’s efforts to address environmental issues and garnered significant backlash from environmental activists and world leaders.
In the same vein, Trump also announced the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). He justified this move by criticizing what he termed as “mismanagement and inefficiency” within the global health body. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at a Washington, D.C., sports arena, Trump vowed to roll back “80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration.”
“We are taking our country back,” Trump declared. “We’ll no longer bow to globalist agendas. America first—always.”
Declaring National Emergencies
One of Trump’s boldest moves on his first day in office was declaring two national emergencies. The first focused on energy independence, with Trump pledging to increase domestic oil production and bolster the country’s strategic petroleum reserves. He described this measure as crucial for economic recovery and promised to expand U.S. energy exports worldwide.
“This is about America reclaiming its wealth,” Trump stated. “The liquid gold beneath our feet will power our nation to prosperity once more.”
The second emergency targeted illegal immigration at the southern border, an issue Trump has long championed. He promised to deploy additional troops to assist border agents and announced plans to restrict refugee and asylum programs. Critics quickly labeled these actions as heavy-handed and counterproductive, reigniting debates on immigration reform.
