President Trump’s second inauguration ceremony took place Monday, Jan. 20 as he was sworn into his role as president for a second time. He declared in his speech that America is entering the Golden Age.
“The golden age of America begins now,” President Trump stated in his presidential speech. “I will, very simply, put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.”
Going into his second presidency, Trump vowed to make a lot of changes within the first few days of his presidency, and he fulfilled those promises over the course of the past week.
FIRST DAY IN OFFICE
Trump previously promised to undo executive orders from the previous administration, but also to sign numerous into order on his first day in office. He has signed over 200 executive orders thus far, many aligned with his campaign promises.
Trump’s order on immigration and U.S. borders allows military service members to act as immigration and border enforcement. Refugee arrivals are also to be stopped and the U.S. Refugee Admissions program is to be suspended.
Additionally, his order aims to redefine birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. This would deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are not citizens.
This order is currently being challenged in federal court.
The Trump order also aims to prioritize the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, not allowing migrants to remain in the U.S. while awaiting their immigration court proceedings, end parole programs for families of permanent resident immigrants and review cases of those under the “temporary protected status.”
In foreign policy, Trump aims to cancel the sanctions Biden established on Israeli groups accused of violence against those in the Gaza Strip. He desires to keep all operations in line with his America First policy.
TRUMP PARDONS JAN. 6 RIOTERS
President Trump issued around 1,500 pardons for those connected to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He commuted sentencing for those connected to the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who had been sentenced for conspiracy.
He also issued complete pardon to those convicted of offenses that were near and at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6.
This act was met with numerous complaints from both democrats and republicans, many believing that this was an insult to the justice system.
These pardons, however, also fulfill one of Trump’s major campaign promises.
COLLEGE AND ON
Now that President Trump has returned to office, many more changes are expected to come. His main work continues to be concerning immigration and changing foreign policy — to name a few.
Many Americans — including college students — will continue to be affected by these policies in different ways. Executive orders have been signed to reverse Biden’s efforts for gender and racial inclusion, directly affecting groups of students in higher education across the nation.
It is vital to stay informed about any changes that may continue to shape lives in both college and onward.
