Following his inauguration on Monday, US President Donald Trump is generating conversation over several executive orders he signed on his first day in office.
Trump says his executive orders will “complete restoration of America”, teasing a turnaround for citizens following the end of Joe Biden’s administration.
Below are seven of the executive orders signed by Trump:
Ending birthright citizenship
Under the new administration, birthright citizenship would not be given if a person’s “mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth”, or “when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary”.
Exit from the World Health Organisation
Trump, who has been vocal about WHO “ripping off” his country announced the US withdrawal from the body.
“World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” he stated.
Trump alleged that the WHO mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
Policy recognising only two genders
Upon assuming office, Trump created a policy removing the “gender ideology guidance” from federal government communication, policies and forms.
Per the policy, there are “only two genders, male and female”.
“Agencies will cease pretending that men can be women and women can be men when enforcing laws that protect against sex discrimination,” Trump said.
Putting a pause on the TikTok ban
In his second term as president, Trump signed an executive order delaying the enforcement of a federal ban on TikTok for at least 75 days.
While signing the order, he shared: “I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok that I didn’t have originally.”
According to Trump, the pause allows time to chart an “appropriate course forward” to protect national security and not abruptly shut down the popular app.
78 Biden-era executive actions rescinded
President Trump ordered that 78 Biden-era executive actions be rescinded. This includes at least a dozen measures supporting racial equity and combating discrimination against gay and transgender people.
After his inaugural speech, he said to a crowd in Washington: “I’ll revoke nearly 80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration.”
The order repeals orders signed by Biden advancing racial equity for underserved communities and the aforementioned order combating discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
National border emergency
Trump also signed an executive order declaring an emergency at the southern US border, along with several other immigration-related policies.
He stated, “All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
With the order, US troops can be sent to the southern border to implement hardline immigration policies as immigrants brace for Trump’s “largest deportation program in American history”.
Pardons for Capitol Hill rioters
Trump also pardoned rioters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill attack as he is expected to direct the Department of Justice to dismiss cases currently in progress.
Giving his rally speech, the president said: “I’m going to be signing on the J6 hostages, pardons, to get them out.
“We’ll be signing pardons for a lot of people, a lot of people.”
The Sun
