Donald Trump begins presidency with sweeping executive orders and pardons

Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House was sworn in as the 47th US president on Monday.

The day had an unorthodox start, with the traditional outdoors swearing-in ceremony moved indoors due to intense cold and wind in Washington.

Former US President Joe Biden and President Trump left the White House together, headed to the US Capitol to begin the inaugural activities. Both men shared the same vehicle, in keeps with political traditions.

Donald Trump, takes the oath of office as Barron, Melania Trump watch at the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, Jan 20, 2025
Donald Trump, takes the oath of office as Barron, Melania Trump watch at the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, Jan 20, 2025 - Kevin Lamarque/AP

After arriving at the Capitol, Trump and his Vice President JD Vance took the oath of office. Trump then delivered his inaugural speech.

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Foreign dignitaries, including some world leaders, attended the event. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng were in attendance.

A host of billionaires, business executives and influencers were also invited to attend the ceremony. Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, UFC boss Dana White and LVMH’s Bernard Arnault were among the attendees.

Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in US Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025
Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in US Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025 - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Copyright 2021 The AP. All rights reserved.

The president then attended the inaugural parade and waved at supporters – who flooded the streets of the US capital to witness the event – before heading to the White House for what he promised would be a very busy first day on the job.

Trump wasted no time upon his arrival at the Oval Office and quickly got to work on kickstarting what he said would be the “golden age of America”.

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Here’s a look at all of the changes he’s made on day one.

Pardons in the 6 January Capitol riots

As promised repeatedly in his 2024 presidential campaign trail, Trump issued pardons on day one to rioters who stormed the US Capitol building on 6 January 2021, rejecting his defeat in the 2020 US election to Joe Biden.

Late on Monday, the US president issued full pardons to approximately 1,500 people convicted or criminally charged in the attacks on Congress, as lawmakers convened that day to certify Biden’s victory.

The commutations also covered the sentences for 14 members of the far-right ‘Proud Boys’ and ‘Oath Keepers’ groups, who were convicted or charged with seditious conspiracy.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order pardoning about 1,500 defendants charged in the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol in the Oval Office, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025
President Donald Trump signs an executive order pardoning about 1,500 defendants charged in the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol in the Oval Office, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Economy and TikTok

Trump signed a largely symbolic memorandum that he described as directing every federal agency to combat consumer inflation by repealing Biden's actions and adding his own orders.

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Trump is easing regulatory burdens on oil and natural gas production, something he promises will bring down costs of consumer goods.

On trade, the US president said he would impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting 1 February but did not announce his plans for taxing Chinese imports.

Trump also signed an order intended to pause Congress’ TikTok ban for 75 days. Trump says this period will serve as a window to locate a US buyer for the platform in a deal that would protect national security interests while allowing the popular social media platform to remain open to Americans.

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

'America First'

Repeating his first-term actions, Trump signed an order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) and ordering a comprehensive review of US foreign aid spending.

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Both moves fit into his isolationist America First approach to foreign affairs.

In more symbolic moves, Trump also planned to sign an order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America". The highest mountain in North America, known as Denali — renamed by former President Barack Obama — will revert to its old name of Mount McKinley.

The new US president also signed an order requiring flags to be at full height on every future Inauguration Day, while another Trump order called for promoting “Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture.”

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Immigration and national security

Trump reversed several immigration orders from his predecessor’s presidency, including one that narrowed the scope of deportation. Biden had ordered deportation priorities for people who commit serious crimes or are deemed as threats to national security.

Trump rolling back Biden’s order is part of his plan, promised during campaigning, of carrying out the “largest deportation programme in American history”. It also restores the immigration policy to how Trump had it as he left office in January 2021.

The president also declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and plans to send troops to help support immigration officers and restrict asylum and refugees.

He’s also trying to end birthright citizenship. Given that birthright citizenship is enshrined in the US constitution, it’s not yet clear whether his order will survive inevitable legal challenges.

Trump also temporarily suspended the US Refugee Admission Program pending a review to assess its public safety and national security implications.

He’s also pledged to restart a policy that forced asylum seekers to wait over the border in Mexico. Still, it’s also unclear whether Mexico would accept migrants again now that their relationship with Washington is strained.

The 47th US president also ended the CBP One app, a Biden-era border app that gave legal entry to nearly one million migrants.

On the national security front, the president revoked all active security clearances from a long list of his perceived enemies. The list includes former director of national intelligence James Clapper, former director of the CIA and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, and his own former national security adviser, John Bolton.

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Climate and energy

Trump signed documents that he said would formally withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate. He made the same move during his first term, which Biden reversed upon taking office.

Trump declared an energy emergency as he looked to make good on his campaign promise to “drill, baby, drill” and said he’ll eliminate what he calls “Biden’s electric vehicle mandate”.

President Donald Trump holds up a letter from former President Joe Biden as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025
President Donald Trump holds up a letter from former President Joe Biden as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Reforms to federal government and bureaucracy

Trump has ended federal government hiring, except for the military and other parts of government that he did not name. He also instated a freeze on new federal regulations as he lays the foundation for his second administration.

He also formally empowered the new government department, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is being led by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.

DOGE is a so-called effort to streamline the government's operation. It is not an official agency, but Trump appears set to grant Musk, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, a wide range of power to recommend cuts in government programmes and spending.

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington - Evan Vucci/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Diversity and inclusion rights

Trump is rolling back protections for transgender people and terminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes within the federal government.

Both are major shifts in federal policy that align with his campaign trail promises.

An order declared that the federal government would only recognise two unchangeable sexes, male and female. They’re to be defined based on whether people are born with eggs or sperm rather than on their chromosomes.

The order would segregate federal prisons, shelters for rape victims and migrants by sex as defined by the order. Federal taxpayer money will also no longer be used to fund “transition services”.

A separate order halted DEI programmes. Trump directed the White House to identify and end them promptly within the government.