Trump’s First Days in Office: Sweeping Changes and Controversy
Three days into Donald Trump’s second term as president, the White House has been a flurry of activity, with executive orders and policy announcements aimed at fulfilling his campaign promises. While his base has largely celebrated the rapid moves, critics warn they reflect an unprecedented consolidation of presidential power that will likely face legal and political challenges.
Immigration Crackdown
Immigration was a cornerstone of Trump’s 2024 campaign, and it has been the focus of his initial executive actions. Hours after his inauguration, Trump declared an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, deploying additional military personnel and effectively halting asylum applications and refugee resettlement programs.
In a controversial move, he signed an order ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, a policy widely seen as unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Legal challenges to this action are already mounting, with constitutional scholars predicting a prolonged battle in the courts.
Despite these bold moves, Trump has not yet delivered on his promise of mass deportations. While administration officials claim deportations have begun, there is no evidence of large-scale raids or detentions. Former Trump adviser Bryan Lanza suggested the symbolic message of these actions is more important than immediate numerical results. “If you deport a million, the rest start to leave on their own,” he said.
Energy and Economic Policy
Trump has tied economic relief to aggressive energy policies. Declaring a “national energy emergency,” he rolled back protections on fossil fuel extraction in Alaska and coastal waters and initiated the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. He argued that these moves will reduce energy costs, which in turn will lower inflation.
Aziz Wehbey, a Republican voter and small-business owner in Pennsylvania, praised the changes. “When energy prices drop, everything else follows,” he said.
Critics, however, caution that these policies could lead to environmental degradation and alienate international allies. Climate experts warn that withdrawing from the Paris agreement will make it harder for the U.S. to combat climate change and could have long-term global consequences.
Cultural and Workforce Reforms
In a nod to his base, Trump has issued executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government, placing employees involved in such initiatives on paid leave. He also mandated that all government documents and forms recognize only two sexes, male and female.
Perhaps most controversially, Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” sparking outrage among some Latin American nations.
Additionally, Trump reinstated rules making it easier to fire senior-level civil servants, suspended new federal hiring, and rolled back regulations implemented during the Biden administration.
Promises Unfulfilled
Notably absent from Trump’s early actions is the implementation of tariffs on major trade partners, a key campaign promise. Economists have warned that tariffs could raise consumer prices and hurt industries reliant on imports, which may explain Trump’s hesitation.
A Presidency Defined by Controversy
Trump’s frenetic pace has thrilled supporters like Rick Frazier, who said the president has kept his word. “He’s doing what he said he’d do. I couldn’t ask for more,” Frazier said.
But critics, including religious leaders like Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, have expressed concern. During a prayer service at the National Cathedral, she called on Trump to “have mercy upon people in our country who are scared now.”
As Trump’s presidency unfolds, it is clear that he plans to govern with the same bombast and boldness that defined his first term. Whether his actions will stand the test of time—or legal scrutiny—remains to be seen.
For now, Trump’s second term is already reshaping the political landscape, fueled by a strategy that thrives on controversy and conflict.