1. Amnesty for those involved in the January 6 attacks
what happened:
Trump issued presidential pardons for about 1,500 people involved in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress, shocking even some of his allies.
Those pardoned include more than 250 people convicted of assault, some of whom attacked police with makeshift weapons.
What it means:
The racist factions of the far right are emboldened. Their online chat group is full of recent festive chatter.
After his release, Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio, one of the most serious criminals connected to the plot, indicated that he rejoined the all-male group and sought “retribution.”
“I’m glad the president is focused on retribution and success, but I say we’re not going to play by those rules,” he said.
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2. left the World Health Organization and stopped foreign aid
what happened:
The United States announced it was withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and suspended all foreign aid for three months.
What it means:
This move leaves critical humanitarian work at risk and threatens the global fight against infectious diseases. Washington is the single largest financial supporter of the United Nations global public health agency.
Lawrence Gostin, a public health law professor at Georgetown University, said Trump is “sowing the seeds for the next pandemic.”
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3. ‘Bible’ backed Israel claims Palestinian land
what happened:
Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations endorsed Israel’s claim of “biblical rights” to the entire occupied West Bank.
When New York Rep. Elise Stefanik was asked on Tuesday whether she supported far-right Israel’s “biblical” claims to occupied Palestinian territory, she answered: “Yes.”
What it means:
This view is a wholesale acceptance of claims based on religious interpretations and will leave millions of Palestinians stateless and landless. Israel is fighting charges of genocide against Palestinians in international courts.
Trump also rescinded U.S. sanctions against far-right Jewish settler groups and individuals accused of involvement in violence against Palestinians. His candidate for Israeli ambassador, Mike Huckabee, who previously laid a ceremonial brick in an Israeli settlement, said he might buy a “holiday home” someday.
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4. Withdrew from the Paris climate agreement
what happened:
On his first day as president, Trump signed an executive order in front of supporters in an arena in Washington, D.C., leaving the Paris Climate Accord for the second time. It will take about a year for the withdrawal to become official.
The administration separately plans to fast-track permits for new fossil fuel projects.
What it means:
The US is the world’s second largest emitter of planetary pollution. The Paris deal is an agreement to avoid a world incurring devastating heat waves, floods, storms and fires like the one that destroyed Los Angeles.
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5. started a war on immigrants and their children
what happened:
Trump declared a “national emergency” related to migration, paving the way for sending our troops to the southern border with Mexico.
The president has also already targeted people at home by attempting to cancel automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children, known as birthrights.
What it means:
Birthright citizenship is protected by the 14th Amendment, so a legal battle is underway.
The order has already been the subject of several lawsuits by civil rights groups, and a federal judge in Seattle on Thursday blocked implementation of the executive order, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Separately, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Trump “violated by a mile.”
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6. Canceled trips for refugees, including those approved to be resettled to us
what happened:
One of Trump’s first acts as president was to suspend the refugee admissions program for people fleeing war and persecution.
What it means:
Thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution and went through vetting processes that sometimes took years to start new lives in the United States are now stranded in various parts of the world. Some had already booked flights.
The moratorium program included the resettlement of more than 1,600 Afghans who supported the U.S. war effort, as well as relatives of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
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7. recommended for death penalty
what happened:
Trump has pledged to pursue the federal death penalty and ensure states have an adequate supply of lethal injection drugs for executions.
What it means:
The order commits Trump’s attorney general to seeking the death penalty for “all crimes of a severity that calls for its use.”
Experts say the order is filled with vague rhetoric and could be unconstitutional, violate defendants’ rights and violate state law.
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8. Elon Musk ignited fear when he appeared to give a fascist salute (twice)
what happened:
Trump’s closest billionaire supporter, Elon Musk, ignited controversy when he gave a series of fascist-style salutes during the inauguration celebrations.
Musk later responded to criticism of his actions in X, saying, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired.” ”
What it means:
This salute caused national and international alarm, especially in places such as Germany.
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9. warned Joe Biden that he should forgive himself
what happened:
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Joe Biden should pardon himself.
“Joe Biden has very bad advisers. Someone advised Joe Biden to pardon everyone but him… Joe Biden had very bad advice. ” Trump said.
What it means:
Biden used his final days in office to issue preemptive pardons to politicians, public officials and even family members, abiding by what he said was a “threat” from the incoming administration.
The outgoing president said there was a threat of “revenge” through criminal prosecution. But he left the list.
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10. Putting anti-discrimination government staff on leave
what happened:
U.S. federal employees working to stop discrimination received paid leave this week.
Under the order, the White House said it would scrap any Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Office, position, plan, action, initiative, or program within 60 days.
The Trump administration also fired U.S. Coast Guard Commander Adlyn Lee Fagan, the first female uniformed leader of a military branch.
What it means:
Over the past few years, the issue of “DEI” has become a flashpoint in the culture wars. During the presidential campaign, Trump echoed conservative attacks on Day, saying there was a “clear anti-white feeling in this country.”
This move halts progress in tackling racist and sexist discrimination.
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11. Denying transgender rights (and banned flags)
what happened:
Government agencies that issue passports, visas, and other official documents are ordered to allow only men and women as options.
“As of today, from this point forward, the official policy of the United States government is that there will only be two people: a man and a woman,” the president said in his inaugural address.
What it means:
Rights advocates say the Day and Transgender Rights Rollback will halt hard-fought fair policies and address systemic obstacles that have denied equal opportunity to marginalized groups for decades. Warning of undermining progress made.
In a related move, the U.S. State Department is also banning consular posts from flying non-U.S. flags. The cable seen by the Guardian, titled “One Flag Policy,” appears to target several instances in which gay pride and black lives flags have been flown in embassies overseas.
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12. changed some names
what happened:
In his inaugural address, Trump reiterated his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
He also said he would rename Alaska’s 20,000-foot Mountain Denali, North America’s tallest peak, back to Mount McKinley.
What it means:
In theory, Trump’s actions would be enough to rename official documents in the United States, but other countries are not obligated to follow suit.
At the very least, it will annoy our cartographers.
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