Donald Trump has completed his political comeback. Inauguration Day begins his final sprint to solidifying his legacy.
In the hours after he returns to the Oval Office, Trump has pledged to do everything from issuing potentially thousands of pardons to kicking off a likely legal battle over immigration. Just this past week, he tacked on a plan to possibly create a new government agency, the External Revenue Service. Fox News reports he’ll sign more than 200 executive actions his first day back in power.
In President Joe Biden’s final hours in office, he issued a slew of pre-emptive pardons to Gen. Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci, and those involved in congressional investigations of Trump, fearing that among Trump’s first acts could be reprisals against them.
Technically speaking, Trump doesn’t even have to be behind the Resolute Desk to get going. Trump’s flurry of actions will likely begin shortly after his inauguration when he sits down in the president’s ceremonial office on Capitol Hill.
While campaigns are littered with “day one” promises, Inauguration Day itself is often uneventful. New presidents have a packed schedule full of pomp and circumstance, starting with a traditional service at St. John’s Church near the White House and stretching late into the evening at multiple celebratory balls. In between, there’s tea with the outgoing president and first lady, lunch with congressional leaders, and a parade.
It’s not an itinerary conducive to Trump’s joke about being a dictator. In 2017, Trump signed just one bill and one executive order on day one. His major actions, including a travel ban on people from mostly Muslim countries, came days later.
This isn’t 2017, though, and Trump has no time to waste. As the first former president in over 130 years to reclaim the White House, he will be constantly reminded of his lame-duck status. Republicans narrowly have complete control of Washington, but historically such trifectas are fleeting.
Here’s how Trump has pledged to spend his first day.
Trade
25% tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian goods: Just before Thanksgiving, Trump said he would levy significant tariffs on the US neighbors due to illegal immigration.
A 60% tariff on all Chinese goods: On the campaign trail, Trump discussed raising tariffs as high as 60% on all Chinese goods. He’s also mused about other wide-ranging tariffs.
The creation of an external revenue service: In his final days before taking office, Trump pledged to create an “external revenue service” to collect tariffs and other foreign fees.
Crackdown on illegal immigration
The start of mass deportations: Immigration was one of Trump’s signature issues in the 2024 campaign. He said numerous times that starting on his first day, he would take action to begin “the largest deportation operation” in the nation’s history.
Repeal birthright citizenship: Trump has pledged to end birthright citizenship, a protection enshrined by the 14th Amendment.
Energy and Environment
Increase fracking and oil drilling: Trump has said he will “drill, drill, drill,” starting immediately after taking office.
Government restructure
Remove civil service protections for federal workers: Trump has said he will return to his sweeping first-term policy that would have made it easier to fire tens of thousands of federal workers.
Create the Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk has already begun hiring staffers to help the outside organization Trump created to advise on ways to cut federal spending.
Move federal agencies out of DC: As president-elect, Trump said his administration would go to court to force federal workers to return to offices. His allies want to move 100,000 jobs outside of the nation’s capital.
Crime and Justice
Pardons for January 6 protesters: Trump has repeatedly said he would pardon supporters who were convicted of offenses related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot that briefly delayed the certification of Biden’s victory.
Culture War
Ban minors from receiving gender-affirming care: In January 2023, Trump pledged a series of actions to restrict minors from receiving certain types of healthcare.
Ban transgender people from military service: In December, Trump told conservative activists that he would take several actions to “stop the transgender lunacy,” including restoring his first-term ban on transgender people openly serving in the US armed forces.
Withdraw funds from schools that teach “critical race theory”: In October, Trump said he would sign an executive order that would revoke federal funding for schools “pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content.”
Prohibit funds from going to schools with vaccine mandates: In August, Trump said, “not one penny” would go to schools that require mandatory vaccinations.
Revive a presidential commission focused on patriotic education: Trump has said he would reinstate his 1776 Commission, created in the wake of The New York Times’ publication of an essay project dubbed “The 1619 Project,” which sought to reframe the story of the US’ creation around slavery.
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