Trump takes office: Only two genders, no birthright citizenship, and border shutdown

At his inaugural event held at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, US President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, immediately marking a stark shift from the previous administration.

In his address, Trump criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, calling his administration “not one of the worst, but the worst in the country’s history.” He went on to repeal 78 executive orders signed by Biden.

The newly sworn-in 47th president wasted no time in implementing his agenda, with significant moves on foreign aid, climate policy, border control, and social issues.

The full list of orders is available on the White House website, per Caliber.Az.

Key orders and actions

Among the most significant executive orders signed by Trump:

• Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO): Trump finalized the US exit from the WHO, which he had criticized in the past for its handling of global health crises, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Halting Foreign Aid: Aid to Ukraine and several other countries was suspended for a 90-day review period, signalling a re-evaluation of US international financial commitments.
• Exit from the Paris Climate Agreement: The US formally withdrew from the international accord aimed at curbing climate change, with Trump reiterating his belief that the agreement unfairly burdened the American economy.
• TikTok Ban Postponed: A previously planned ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok was delayed by 75 days, pending further review.
• Immigration and Border Control: Trump signed an order limiting birthright citizenship and announced the termination of the CBP One app, a key platform used by migrants for legal entry into the US. “The app is no longer functional, and previously scheduled appointments have been cancelled,” the Department of Homeland Security confirmed. Trump also introduced an emergency regime on the southern border and ordered the immediate deployment of military troops to enforce stricter controls.

Social and cultural policies

Trump's orders also included culturally contentious measures:

• Recognition of Only Two Genders: The president issued a decree declaring that only two genders, male and female, would be officially recognized in the US. “We are returning to basic truths and common sense,” Trump said, emphasizing his administration’s stance on traditional values.
• Free Speech Protections: Trump vowed to restore freedom of speech, signing an order preventing government agencies from being used as tools to target political opponents.
• Regulatory Freeze: Until the formation of his full administration, Trump ordered a halt on all new federal regulations and imposed a freeze on the hiring of government employees.

Elections claims revisited

Trump revisited his claims about the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. Speaking to supporters on Capitol Hill, he said, “2020 was completely rigged. Those elections showed just how bad and incompetent our opponents are.”

He contrasted the 2020 results with his 2016 victory, stating, “We beat Hillary, and in 2020, we did much better. We had millions more votes, 10 or 12 million more. No president has ever had that many votes, and they still claimed we lost. It was a fraud.”

The 2020 election, marked by extensive mail-in voting, faced widespread scrutiny and challenges, though no evidence of fraud was substantiated by courts or election officials.

Ambitious and polarizing agenda

Taking office on January 20, Trump outlined bold and divisive plans, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” He reaffirmed his commitment to a nationalist agenda, emphasizing sovereignty, traditional values, and a rollback of progressive policies.

“These actions are just the beginning,” Trump declared. “We are reclaiming our nation’s strength, values, and freedom.”

By Tamilla Hasanova