Trump signing Executive Orders after speeches. Credit: AP
The Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump and JD Vance recently captured the eyes of the American people as former president Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris exited the White House after executing last-minute Presidential Pardons and other initiatives. With several speeches on the day of his January 20th inauguration, President Trump left no time to waste signing several executive orders that same day.
Just one day after his swearing-in, President Trump signed an executive order to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal workplace. He also enacted several other executive orders that would significantly impact the LGBTQ+ community, including one specifically targeting transgender rights.
In addition to these measures, Trump issued nearly 1,500 pardons, commuting the sentences of 14 individuals connected to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. As he granted clemency to more people associated with the insurrection, including members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy, he remarked, “This is a big one,” according to NBC, adding, “We hope they come out tonight, frankly.”
Immediately after his inauguration, Trump announced plans for a massive deportation of undocumented migrants. “We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” he stated in his inaugural speech. This policy is likely to impact the labor force in the construction industry, where according to USAFacts, 11.7%—approximately 3.33 million—of workers are immigrants.
Additionally, Trump intends to impose import tariffs on trading partners such as China, Mexico, and Canada. The tariffs will include a 10% duty on global imports and a 60% duty on goods from China. Canada and Mexico will face a 25% duty on goods sent to the U.S. starting February 1, according to Reuters. These tariffs could affect popular brands among the Gen-Z community, such as Shein and Temu. While these tariffs have not yet been enacted, Trump has negotiated with these countries, encouraging them to manufacture products on U.S. soil to avoid import tariffs and benefit from lower tax rates.
“My message to every business in the world is very simple: manufacture your product in America, and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth,” Trump told a panel of business executives.
As Trump takes action to reshape the country in his image, he will continue to introduce new orders while dismantling others in his pursuit to “Make America Great Again.” America awaits to see how these changes will shape the country at large.
Spartan Echo 