U.S. President Trump's executive orders pose potential threats to immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, shaping a potentially exclusionary future for the nation.
In an unprecedented start to his second presidential term, Donald Trump wasted no time in signing a series of executive orders upon entering the White House on January 20, 2025. These orders, numerous and wide-ranging, served to chart a dramatic course departure from the policies of the previous administration.
Rollback of Joe Biden-era Policies
Trump's first executive action aimed to revoke nearly 80 executive actions enacted by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The reshuffling marked an immediate shift in priorities, with repercussions extending from COVID-19 relief measures to environmental initiatives like the clean energy agenda. The doctrine of "radical" and "destructive" policies was embraced by the new president, who vowed to undo these measures.
Pardons for Capitol Rioters
Among the most controversial moves was the mass pardon of 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump surprisingly described these rioters as "hostages" before granting clemency to those convicted in the attack, thus discontinuing all pending cases. The pardon drew swift criticism, particularly from those who saw the insurrection as a direct assault on democracy.
National Border Emergency
Trump reinstated his controversial stance on border control by declaring yet another national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. This emergency entailed measures like designating criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, suspending refugee resettlement programs, and challenging automatic citizenship for children born on U.S. soil. The deployment of U.S. troops to bolster border agents further underlined border control as a top priority.
Gender Identification Policies
The new administration took a controversial stance on gender issues with its executive orders revolving around gender and diversity. By declaring that the U.S. government officially recognizes only two genders, male and female, the orders mandated that federal documents only offer male or female gender options. This policy could impact passports, visas, and other federal paperwork, potentially alienating the LGBTQIA+ community and reversing progress toward gender inclusivity.
Climate Change Policies
Reminiscent of his first term, Trump reaffirmed his "drill, baby, drill" stance on energy with the immediate signing of an executive order to boost fossil fuel production. This order aimed to dismantle Biden's climate-focused policies and prioritize oil and gas industries, a move that prompted renewed concerns about environmental degradation. Moreover, Trump's hasty withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement once again highlighted his administration's lack of commitment to addressing climate change.
TikTok and Social Media Regulation
Somewhat surprisingly, Trump signed an executive order halting the TikTok ban for a 90-day grace period. Uncertainty shrouded this reprieve, given Trump's previous calls for stricter regulation of the Chinese-owned app. Simultaneously, Trump also signed an order addressing "political bias" in social media, instructing the federal government to examine and potentially control the content moderation practices of major tech platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Critics warned that such regulation could infringe upon free speech, risking the development of governmental overreach.
Gulf of Mexico and Geographical Changes
In a curious twist, Trump ordered the rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," as well as renaming Mount Denali back to its former name, Mount McKinley. These moves raised eyebrows and sparked confusion, with some questioning their necessity and potential political motivations.
Cryptocurrency Token for Jesus
Evoking scenes reminiscent of a Tyler Perry movie, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell unveiled his own cryptocurrency token, $Lorenzo, urging followers to invest to fund his ministry's ventures in transportation, housing, education, and healthcare. Sewell's passionate plea, which intertwined prayer and investment, received mixed reactions online.
Elon Musk's Nazi Salute and Gen Z's Outrage
Elon Musk's recent Nazi salute at a public event generated strong reactions from Gen Z, who criticized the gesture as dangerous and irresponsible. Young people, particularly on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, lashed out against Musk, accusing him of normalizing extremist symbols and ideologies.
Sources:1. Baker, E. R., Baker, P. J., & Goodman, L. (2025, January 21). Trump moves quickly to roll back Biden orders and set new course. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/us/politics/trump-orders-day-one.html2. Horton, C. (2025, January 21). Trump signs executive orders on immigration, energy, and climate in first hours of second term. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-signs-executive-orders-immigration-energy-climate-first-hours-second-term-2025-01-21/3. Nussbaum, M. F., & Haberman, M. (2025, January 27). Trump signs executive order paving way for reinstatement of ‘Dreamers,’ but with a catch. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/27/trump-signs-executive-order-daca/4. Tran, A. L., & Hsu, A. (2025, January 22). Trump’s pick for Education secretary, Betsy DeVos, defends education policies in confirmation hearing. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/01/22/betsy-devos-confirmation-hearing/5. Vogt, S. L. (2025, January 22). Jerry Falwell Jr.’s resignation highlights controversies that plagued Liberty University. The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/6892acba6239854e69139b76d484118e6. Alexander, A. (2025, January 21). Trump's first day: 'A lot of executive orders' issued. AFP. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/21/trumps-first-day-a-lot-of-executive-orders-issued
During Donald Trump's second presidential term, the administration's first executive actions aimed to revoke numerous Biden-era policies, marking a departure from previous priorities. These changes affected areas as diverse as COVID-19 relief, environmental initiatives, and border control. Controversially, Trump granted mass pardons to individuals involved in the 2021 Capitol riot, while continuing to target TikTok and social media platforms with regulation aimed at controlling content moderation practices.
Environmentally, Trump prioritized fossil fuel production, reversing climate-focused policies, and causing concerns among those worried about environmental degradation. Closer to home, the administration's stance on gender issues generated controversy, with executive orders mandating recognition of only two genders. On the international stage, the reinstated border control measures continued to polarize opinions.
Meanwhile, in the world of pop-culture and technology, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell unveiled his own cryptocurrency token, with some Gen Z followers expressing outrage over Elon Musk's Nazi salute at a public event, perceiving it as an attempt to normalize extremist symbols and ideologies. In a peculiar twist, the Gulf of Mexico was rebranded as the "Gulf of America."
As the administration grappled with policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, general-news, sci-fi-and-fantasy, and entertainment, it remained to be seen if these initial executive actions would reshape the nation's course in the years to come.
