Welcome to a special Inauguration Day edition of From the Politics Desk. Donald Trump was once again sworn in as president after taking the oath of office this afternoon. We present the very different speeches he gave and the executive orders he plans, as well as Joe Biden’s final acts in the White House.
— Adam Wallner
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A tale of two Trump speeches
Written by Jonathan Allen
The United States had a long spotlight on the two Donald Trumps on Monday. One was his official inaugural address, and the other was his freewheeling second speech inside the Capitol.
Get used to it.
In the new president’s first series of speeches to former presidents, members of Congress, family members and senior supporters in the Capitol Rotunda, Trump proclaims a new “Golden Age” for the United States and seeks unity. This aggressive policy remained true to the promises he made during his campaign and transition.
In other words, the original Trump was a more focused, policy-driven candidate who won the 2024 election and the national popular vote. He spoke humorously but earnestly about “America’s decline” and his plans to reverse it.
President Trump said, “America’s golden age begins now.”
Along with a series of far-reaching executive orders he was scheduled to issue on Monday, Trump’s first remarks since taking office as president of his second term mean he intends to test the limits of executive power in aggressively advancing his own policies. suggested that. And he has set high bars for himself and racked up promises that may be difficult to fulfill.
Within an hour, he was in the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol, venting wild claims, old grievances, and attacks on his political opponents to a crowd of supporters. It was raw, emotional, and more energetic than a formal speech.
He returned to his oft-repeated false claim that the 2020 election was “completely rigged.” He accused former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of failing to protect the Capitol four years ago when his supporters stormed the building in an effort to force him to remain in office. He then called the members of the committee that investigated his actions on January 6, 2021, “thugs.”
“I think this was a better speech than the one I gave upstairs,” he told the crowd before leaving.
Trump often prefers to accept both sides of an issue, including whether to give in to his thirst for retaliation. If Monday was any indication, that won’t change in his second term.
Read more about President Trump’s remarks →
President Trump prepares a slew of executive orders
President Trump will deliver his third speech tonight at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, where he is expected to begin signing a flurry of executive orders.
His day one priority list includes:
Declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, ordering construction of the border wall to resume, reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy that calls for the abolition of birthright citizenship (although it is unclear whether Mexico has agreed to any terms). Declaring a “national energy emergency,” which would give him the authority to increase U.S. energy production; Ending diversity programs at federal agencies; Requiring more federal employees to return directly to work. Declare that the U.S. government only recognizes both genders; Create a Department of Men and Women for Government Efficiency (Vivek Ramaswami plans to run for governor of Ohio and has already resigned); America wants to change the name of Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley, and someone wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of Mexico (though it’s not clear if he has the authority to do so since it’s considered international waters)
The scope and number of orders President Trump is expected to sign are far greater than the single executive order targeting the Affordable Care Act he signed on his first day in office in 2017. exceeds.
This also exceeds the number signed by Joe Biden on his first day in office. Biden signed nine executive orders on topics ranging from ethics rules for executive branch employees to combating discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, while also reneging on President Trump’s directives on immigration and deregulation. He also signed an order to withdraw it.
Click here for more information on the presidential order →
Biden grants preemptive pardon in final White House act
Joe Biden announced a series of sweeping preemptive pardons for families in his final hours as president.
Biden said he granted the pardons because he was concerned that his family was facing politically motivated attacks, adding: “There’s no reason to believe these attacks are going to end.”
Biden announced that he would pardon his brothers James and Francis, saying, “The issuance of a pardon should not be misconstrued as an admission that they have engaged in any wrongdoing, nor is acceptance of the pardon.” This should not be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any crime.” sister Valerie Biden Owens and spouses James and Valerie;
In a 2020 interview with CNN, Biden criticized the idea of an outgoing president preemptively pardoning families. At the time, it was suggested that President Trump might take such action.
Earlier on Monday, Biden issued preemptive pardons to several other officials “under threat of criminal prosecution,” including members of Congress, staff, and police on the committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. gave. Police officers who testified before the committee. Biden also pardoned former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Biden emphasized that those receiving pre-emptive pardons had not committed a crime, but Republicans quickly criticized the move as an admission of guilt.
Biden also commuted the life sentence of Leonard Pelletier, a Native American rights activist who was convicted of killing two FBI agents and fleeing a federal prison.
That’s all from the political desk for now. Today’s newsletter was edited by Adam Wallner and Bridget Bowman.
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