Trump pardons Capitol rioters and signs key executive orders
One of Donald Trump’s first decisions after being sworn in for his second term as President of the United States was to pardon approximately 1,500 supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Among those pardoned were also leaders of the extremist groups, the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. They were released from prison, but their convictions remained intact. This decision sparked outrage among law enforcement and politicians, given the violence of that day, which resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to around 140 officers, according to Reuters.
Additionally, in the early hours of his presidency, Trump signed several executive orders concerning both domestic and foreign policies:
- Declaring a state of emergency at the border with Mexico, allowing the deployment of troops to halt illegal immigration.
- Cancelling refugee resettlement programs, impacting over 1,600 Afghans, including families of U.S. military personnel.
- Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and reaffirming the prioritization of U.S. energy interests.
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty, adopted in 2015 during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), with the primary goal of combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Radical Changes within the Administration
Trump created a "Department of Government Efficiency," led by Elon Musk, to cut public spending. He also ordered the replacement of several nonpartisan diplomats with those loyal to his administration.
At the same time, the White House leader renewed his promises to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "American Gulf" and to regain control over the Panama Canal.
At 78 years old, Donald Trump became the first president to secure a second term after losing the presidency for the first time and the first leader with criminal convictions to hold this office.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
