Immigration, tariffs, energy, gender ideology and TikTok, Donald Trump's first decrees as president
After winning the election on 5 November, Donald Trump was proclaimed the 47th president-elect in the history of the United States. Despite the winter cold and security measures, his proclamation ceremony had an intimate character and was far removed from the pomp that usually accompanies US presidents on the so-called Inauguration Day. Trump vowed to protect the Constitution at the most expensive inauguration ceremony in history, due to tight security measures.
Surrounded by the world's wealthiest businessmen and America's most prestigious political figures, Donald Trump stressed in his first words as president that America's golden age begins right now. ‘From this day forward, we will once again be respected around the world and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. God bless America,’ he said.
The 47th US president was sworn in before a copy of the Constitution at 18:01 (Spanish time), minutes after JD Vance was sworn in as vice-president. It only took 15 minutes for Donald Trump to launch his first attack on the Biden Administration. The new tenant of the White House lamented that the country ‘cannot provide basic services’ to citizens from states such as North Carolina or Los Angeles, while it does take in ‘dangerous criminals’.
During his inauguration speech, the new president announced the creation of a tax agency to collect tariffs and the declaration of a national emergency on the border. ‘Our country has been built by patriots who have had nothing, who have fought for our rights and our freedom,’ he said. ‘I am with you, I will fight for you and I will win for you. I will win like never before,’ he continued.
My talk today at the Presidential Parade
pic.twitter.com/qCAxYQb7LN— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
Also speaking at the ceremony was Elon Musk, the world's richest entrepreneur and Trump's pick to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk said after the inauguration that he is ‘looking forward to the future’ and that whatever the term of office brings ‘is going to be fantastic’. The owner of Tesla and X stressed that, thanks to Donald Trump, the future of civilisation is assured. ‘We're going to have safe cities, finally, secure borders, sensible spending, basic things. Basic things. And we're going to take DOGE to Mars!’.
Measures approved by Donald Trump
The new president has not waited to sit in the Oval Office to sign his first decrees and has taken his first decisions from the very desk of the Capital One Arena.
On migration, Trump has proclaimed a state of national emergency on the border with Mexico; he has reinstated the “Quédate en México” policies; he has ordered the deployment of troops to the border; he will end the catch and release policy; he will continue with the construction of the border wall and has given permission to the Justice Department to use the death penalty as punishment for crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
In addition, Donald Trump granted a pardon to the 1,500 people convicted of the ‘Assault on Capitol Hill’ and ordered the commutation of the 14 prison sentences for the events that took place on 6 January 2021.
On economic matters, the new president announced the withdrawal of the United States from the OECD, the establishment of a minimum tax of 15 % on multinationals and the creation of the Foreign Revenue Service.
On climate change and energy sector, Trump signed the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas emissions; the declaration of an energy emergency that will allow him to drill more freely; the elimination of regulatory and emissions limits on vehicles; and the end of wind farm leasing.
In bureaucratic matters, the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk; a hiring freeze for federal employees, except for the Armed Forces; the elimination of telecommuting for federal employees; a request for help to combat inflation; and a freeze on federal agency rulemaking were made official.
Trump firma una congelación de todas las contrataciones federales, excepto en el ejército y otras categorías críticas.
— Wall Street Wolverine (@wallstwolverine) January 20, 2025
pic.twitter.com/Motxfj7W0h
In addition, the suspension of the use of TikTok was extended for 75 days; Joe Biden's 78 executive orders were repealed; freedom of speech on social media was restored; the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization was decreed; male and female were established as the only genders; and soldiers expelled for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID were ordered to be reinstated.
Congratulations on second term
The international community congratulated the new US president. Among them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the return to the White House of a Trump who negotiated the ‘historic’ Abraham Accords in which Israel made peace with four Arab countries. Netanyahu said he hoped that, under his leadership, ‘the defeat of the terrorist axis of Iran’ would bring about a ‘new era of peace and prosperity’ in the Middle East.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented that his government notes with ‘satisfaction’ Trump's willingness to negotiate, whom he congratulated on his inauguration, adding that Moscow is ‘ready for dialogue with the new US administration on the conflict in Ukraine’.
On the other hand, several European leaders have stressed the importance of transatlantic relations. The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, praised the connection of ‘collaboration, cooperation and partnership’ between the two nations. ‘The United Kingdom and the United States will work together to ensure the success of both our countries,’ he said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent Trump her best wishes for his second term, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a message on social media, clarified that the United States is a ‘very close ally’.
In South America, his great ally, Argentine President Javier Milei, celebrated his return to the Oval Office: ‘He will always count on the Republic of Argentina’, he assured. The Argentinean president also made it clear that he will collaborate in the defence of the values ‘that made the West the greatest civilising feat in history’.
