First 100 days of the second Donald Trump presidency
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Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025, thus beginning the first 100 days of his second presidency, which will end on April 29, 2025. The first 100 days of a presidency took on symbolic significance during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term in office, and the period is considered a benchmark to measure the early success of a president. As of April 24, 2025, President Trump has signed 139 executive orders, 39 proclamations, 42 memorandums, the Laken Riley Act, a continuing appropriations act, and other pieces of legislation for Congress.
 | This article needs to be updated. (February 2025) |
| Part of Second presidency of Donald Trump | |
| Date | January 20, 2025 – April 29, 2025 |
|---|---|
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Trump's return to office is concurrent with the Republican Party maintaining a legislative majority in the House of Representatives and securing the Senate majority in the 2024 Congressional Elections, marking an overall government trifecta for the GOP for the first time since the 115th Congress in 2017 at the beginning of Trump's first presidency.
Since taking office, Trump's extensive use of executive orders has drawn a mixed reception from both Republicans and Democrats. Some executive orders have tested the limits of executive authority, and others have faced immediate legal challenges.[1][2] Major topics Trump has focused on include immigration reform, deportations, applying tariffs on other countries, cutting federal spending, reducing the federal workforce, increasing executive authority, and implementing a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Background
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In the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt promised major reforms during his first 100 days as president of the United States amid the Great Depression. After he introduced many significant policies during that period, the events of the "first 100 days" of a presidency became a common standard by which to measure future presidents in U.S. politics.[3][4] After Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election by defeating Hillary Clinton, he made a series of promises for the first 100 days of his first presidency, which began in 2017.[5] Trump's efforts to fulfill key campaign promises often stalled, were compromised, or were unsuccessful due to infighting among his Republican Party, which had legislative majorities in Congress during the 115th Congress and ongoing political polarization, though he dismissed the "first 100 days" benchmark as an artificial milestone.[6] However, Trump did enact many major policies and signed more executive orders in his first 100 days than any president since Harry S. Truman.[3] In total, he signed 28 bills, 24 executive orders, 22 memorandums, and 20 proclamations.
Following the end of his first term in 2021 after his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, Trump returned to power for a second term upon his victory in the 2024 presidential election by defeating Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee for President after he ended his presidential campaign.[7] Trump's primary goal for the first 100 days of his second presidency is to implement the Agenda 47 policy platform of his presidential campaign, reverse much of Biden's executive actions and policies, and resume where he left off after his first term.[7][8] Trump said that, on the first day of his second term, he would begin the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, close the U.S. border with Mexico, reinstate the travel bans on specific countries from his first term, end the federal government's electric vehicle incentives and pro-climate subsidies, expand domestic oil production, pardon defendants of the January 6 United States Capitol Riot of 2021, end protections for gender-affirming care, and cut federal funding for schools his administration deemed "woke".[3][8] Trump also promised tariffs on the U.S.'s foreign trade partners, tax cuts, and a reduction of the size of the federal government.[9]
Inauguration
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The second inauguration of Donald Trump was the 60th presidential inauguration. It took place exactly eight years after Trump's first inauguration in 2017. Donald Trump and JD Vance were formally inaugurated as the 47th President and 50th Vice President of the United States at noon on January 20, 2025, in the Capitol Rotunda, marking the start of the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency.[10] [11]
Presidential Communications
The content of Whitehouse.gov was switched from the Biden Administration version to the Second Trump Administration version; the former was archived as BidenWhiteHouse[12] This was the fifth time the presidential website had switched between administrations and was the third switch of the White House's social media accounts.[13] As Trump took the oath of office, the official @POTUS X (Twitter) account switched to President Trump and Joe Biden's previous tweets were moved to @POTUS46Archive.[14][15] Members of the Second Trump administration assumed control of numerous social media accounts while former Biden Administration accounts were similarly archived such as Melania Trump assuming @FLOTUS, JD Vance assuming @VP, Usha Vance assuming @SLOTUS, Karoline Leavitt assuming @PressSec, among others. Trump's cabinet members were given new social media accounts as previous administrations had done and new executive branch websites were created while previous administration websites were transferred to the National Archives.
Second Inaugural Address
In his second inaugural address, President Trump declared that "the golden age of America begins right now", promising that the United States would once again be respected globally and no longer be exploited. He pledged to end the weaponization of the Department of Justice and the federal government, and said his administration's top priority will be to create a nation that is "proud, prosperous, and free" and that "a tide of change is sweeping the country". Trump said the U.S. government was facing a deep crisis of trust, accusing the political establishment of taking power and wealth from American citizens while allowing the nation's institutions to deteriorate and mismanage foreign affairs. Criticizing the Biden administration's immigration policies, he argued they endangered Americans by providing sanctuary to criminals who entered illegally. Trump acknowledged those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene in 2024 and the January 2025 California wildfires, vowing that America's decline would end under his renewed leadership. Addressing the challenges he faced throughout the eight years since his first inauguration in January 2017, Trump stated he had been "tested and challenged more than any President in our nation's 250-year history", referencing the legal battles, prosecutions, and assassination attempts he endured throughout 2023 and 2024. Trump promised his administration would face every crisis with "dignity, power, and strength", working to restore hope, prosperity, safety, and peace for Americans of all backgrounds. With his inauguration coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr Day, Trump committed to furthering King's dream of equality and unity. Trump said he would spend the remainder of Inauguration Day signing a "series of historic executive orders" to launch the "complete restoration of America".
Outlining his administration’s immigration agenda, President Trump announced he would declare a second national emergency at the southern border, repatriate millions of illegal migrants, reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, end Catch and Release, designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations, invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and mobilize the full strength of federal and state agencies to combat crime. Turning to the economy, Trump blamed inflation on federal overspending and high energy costs and vowed to declare a national energy emergency. He framed his energy policy to focus on expanding domestic oil drilling, unleashing America's natural resources, exporting American energy globally, repealing Biden-era climate regulations—including the EV mandate—and revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. On economic policy, Trump called for imposing tariffs on other nations to enrich America and proposed the creation of the External Revenue Service to manage tariff revenues. To streamline federal operations, Trump announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency and promised a ban on federal censorship. In social policy, Trump declared he would abolish DEI initiatives, affirmative action, and critical race theory within the federal government in order to promote a colorblind and merit-based society. He also pledged to officially define gender as male and female within federal guidelines and restore service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. On foreign affairs, Trump expressed his desire to be remembered as a peacemaker and unifier, with a military committed to winning wars decisively rather than being entangled in endless conflicts. He also announced symbolic orders to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali. Drawing inspiration from Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, Trump praised the use of tariffs as a strategy for national enrichment and noted their role in achievements like the construction of the Panama Canal. Closing his address, Trump declared that America is in a stage of expansion and outlined aspirations for American landings on Mars, paralleling America's future to his own political comeback.
Early executive actions
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Executive Orders
Upon taking office, Trump signed a record number of executive orders. He signed 26 on his first day in office,[16] more than any other president.[17]
His first executive order, Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government, directs federal agency heads to search for politically motivated past conduct by intelligence, justice, or regulatory agencies. The order addresses the purported weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents during the Biden administration. His second, Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, repealed 79 Biden-era executive actions, including 68 executive orders and 11 presidential memorandums.[18] His third reaffirmed the constitutional right to free speech and bans federal censorship of online speech.[19] His fourth ensures the Department of State aligns with an America First foreign policy and champions American interests.[20] His fifth rescinded all DEI programs and activities in federal agencies. His sixth revoked security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who claimed the Hunter Biden laptop controversy was Russian disinformation.[21] His seventh, Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, is aimed at maximizing Alaska's natural resources and reviving the Alaska LNG project including the removal of resource development restrictions.[22] His eighth, Unleashing American Energy, encourages energy exploration and production on federal land and waters, terminated the electric vehicle (EV) mandate,[23] revoked 13 more Biden executive orders and 1 Jimmy Carter executive order, dissolved the American Climate Corps and Interagency Working Group (IWG) [24] and froze the disbursement of funds of the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[25][26] His next four executive orders (9–12) started the second withdrawal process of the U.S. from the World Health Organization, declared a national energy emergency, designated certain international drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,[27] and reorganized the U.S. Digital Service into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Protecting the American People from Invasion reorganizes immigration enforcement by prioritizing the removal and identification of illegal migrants who threaten public safety and security. It revoked an additional four Biden executive orders, ended the Family Reunification Task force, and the establishment of Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in every state.[28] Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship intended to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal migrants born on American soil, but faced court challenges delaying its implementation [29]
Trump's next six executive orders (15–20) increased vigilance in vetting and screening standards concerning immigration across federal agencies,[30] started the second withdrawal process of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords and several international climate agreements,[31] suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program,[32] restored the federal death penalty, continued expansion of the U.S.–Mexico border wall, resumed migrant protection protocols, and delayed the impending ban of TikTok in the U.S. by 75 days. The remaining six executive orders (21–26) clarify the U.S. Military's role in the protection of the United States' sovereignty and territorial integrity,[33] defined gender by an immutable male-female binary, ordered a 90 day pause on all foreign aid (excluding Ukraine, Egypt, and Israel), prioritized federal hiring to focus on one's qualifications,[34] revived Schedule F as Schedule Policy/Career, ordered federal agencies to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America", and reverted the federal designation of Mount Denali to Mount McKinley.[35]
Four days into Trump's second term, Time found that nearly two-thirds of his executive actions "mirror or partially mirror" proposals from Project 2025,[36] which was seconded by Bloomberg Government.[37]
Presidential Memorandums
President Trump issued a total of 12 memorandums on his first day in office. These memorandums established an America First Trade Policy,[38] began a 90-day hiring freeze (with exceptions for troops, secretaries, and others), require all government employees to work in-office and end federal remote-work, prohibit federal agencies from issuing new regulations until they are reviewed and approved,[39] pause offshore wind projects,[40] restart efforts to reroute water from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta to other parts of California,[41] deliver emergency price relief, ensure federal buildings are visually identifiable as civic buildings, create a list of personnel eligible for TS/SCI security clearances for a six-month period, and implement improvements to California's water infrastructure.
Several of Trump's executive actions ignored or violated federal laws, regulations, and the Constitution, according to some legal scholars.[42][43][44] After multiple orders were blocked by federal judges, Trump administration officials increased their criticism of the judiciary, while some Republicans in Congress called for impeaching federal judges who ruled against Trump.[45]
Domestic policy
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Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
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Background
In the summer of 2024, during a X (Twitter) discussion with Trump, Elon Musk proposed the establishment of a government efficiency commission. Saying "I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that takes a look at these things and just ensures that the taxpayer money, the taxpayers hard-earned money is spent in a good way. I'd be happy to help out on such a commission".[46] During an interview with Reuters, Trump said he was open to giving Musk an advisory role in his administration [47] and on September 5, 2024, he officially announced that "at the suggestion of Elon Musk... I will create a Government Efficiency Commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms." The New York Times compared the project to other Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt's Keep Commission, Ronald Reagan's Grace Commission, and vice president Al Gore's National Partnership for Reinventing Government. After his election victory on November 5, 2024, Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would serve as co-chairs of DOGE to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.[48]
Ramaswamy parted with the incoming Trump Administration to pursue a run for Ohio Governor in the 2026 US elections. After being inaugurated for a second term, Trump signed an executive order formally establishing three DOGE entities. The Department of Government Efficiency, the United States DOGE Service (USDS): formed from the reorganization of the United States Digital Service, and the DOGE Service Temporary Organization, with the USDS serving as its parent organization. The DOGE Temporary Organization was given an expiration date of July 4, 2026. DOGE teams were established for federal agencies with each team consisting of four members, a team leader, an engineer, an HR specialist, and an attorney. DOGE Documents are classified as presidential records, preventing public access to the information until at least 2034. DOGE is not a cabinet level, rather a federal office.
Immigration policy
Trump made immigration policy, particularly cracking down on the United States-Mexico border crisis, a center point of his campaign, and many of his early actions focused on this issue. Upon taking office on January 20, 2025, Trump signed an array of executive orders towards immigration reform and ending much of his predecessor's policies on Immigration. Within minutes of the Second Trump presidency, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shutdown the CBP One app [49] Throughout the early days of his presidency, Trump signed executive orders that declared a second national emergency on the southern border; enabling the deployment of armed forces and addressing the fentanyl crisis, the designation of international Drug Cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, repealing a Biden executive order that created the Family Reunification Task Force, suspending the Refugee Admissions Program for 90 days, ended the CNHV Parole Program for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, & Venezuela, and attempting to end birthright citizenship for descendants of illegal immigrants who were born in America.[50][51] Policies and initiatives revived from Trump's first term include Remain in Mexico, construction on the US-Mexico border, and travel bans.[52]
On January 22, 2025, Trump revoked guidance from 2011 prohibiting illegal migrant arrests in areas such as courthouses, schools, churches, and hospitals, or during funerals and weddings.[53] On March 1, Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States [54] On March 10, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security rebranded the CBP One app as CBP Home to allow illegal migrants to identify themselves and self-deport. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that migrants who self-deport may have an opportunity to return to the United States legally in the future.[55] March 13, 2025, the Trump Administration requested permission from the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to partly take effect in several states while its implementation and ongoing legal battles continued.[56] On March 15, 2025, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the first use of such since World War II, in order to ensure the deportations of suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. A federal judge has temporarily blocked deportations under this order, citing concerns about due process.[57] Despite this, the Trump Administration still carried out the deportations of 250 suspected gang members to El Salvador, citing security concerns.[58]
Laken Riley Act and expansion of the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center
On January 29, 2025, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, the first legislation of Trump’s second term. The law is named after Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2024. It requires the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens accused or charged with theft-related crimes, and those accused of assaulting a police officer. It also allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused by illegals to citizens and for failure to enforce immigration laws.[59][60] After signing the Laken Riley Act into law, Trump signed a presidential memorandum to order the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to begin the expansion of the migrant operations center in the Guantanamo Bay naval base, separate from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp military prison, to house up to 30,000 "high priority" illegal migrant detainees. The operations center was previously used to temporarily house migrants during prior presidencies.[61]
In the days following the announcement, more than 1000 troops were deployed to Guantanamo to begin the expansion. Between 178 to 256 illegal migrants, many being deported back to their countries, had passed through the base and only 20 remained on March 6, 2025. By early March 2025, the Trump Administration was rethinking the expansion at Guantanamo as major legal, logistical and financial hurdles had arisen. The space for 30,000 illegal migrants was still under construction and tents built for detainees did not meet ICE standards for detention.[62][63] As the mission at Guantanamo was changing, the Pentagon was reportedly considering bringing home some of the over 1,000 troops that were sent for deployment home. On February 26, 2025, Department of Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, announced that more than 20,000 illegal migrants were arrested in February and ICE arrests have skyrocketed 627% compared to the Biden Era arrests and that border crossings had declined by 90%.[64]
Legal immigration
A Trump Gold Card will be a type of residency permit for the United States that allows investors a path to residency and citizenships if they commit at least $5 million to projects in the US. A key difference from the EB5 program, the United States' current path for investors to gain residency that the Gold Card intends to replace, is that Gold Card holders are not liable for US federal income tax on income earned outside the US. There are constitutional questions about executive authority for this kind of change to immigration and tax law without express Congressional approval. It is unclear what would happen to the US federal taxability of a Gold Card holder's non-US income if the holder becomes a US citizen.[65]
Mass deportation of immigrants – Statistics
| Day | Arrests (% change from prior Day) |
|---|---|
| January 23 | |
| January 24 | 593(+9.27%  ) |
| January 25 | 286(-51.8%  ) |
| January 26 | 956(+334% ) |
| January 27 | 1,179(+23.3% ) |
| January 28 | 969(-17.8% ) |
| January 29 | 1,016(+15.6% ) |
| January 30 | 962(-5.3% ) |
| January 31 | 913(-5.1% ) |
| February 1 | 864(-5.4% ) |
| Total as of February 1 |
| Month | Deportations (% change from previous month) |
|---|---|
| February 22, 2025 | |
| March 22 | |
| April 22 | |
| May 22 |
Economic policy
Inflation remained a persistent topic during Trump's 2024 campaign and dominant issue of the subsequent election. After taking office on January 20, 2025, Trump inherited a resilient economy from the Biden Administration, with inflation rates having declined from its 40-year highs, but remaining a heavy burden on Americans and above the Federal Reserve's 2% rate. The unemployment rate was 4.4%,[77] the Inflation rate ranged from 2.2% to 2.4%,[78] and the national debt was approximately 36.2 trillion.[79] During Trump's first term, the US faced increases in national debt; as did with previous presidencies, tariffs on US trading partners, and economic downturn resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Since becoming president, Trump has imposed tariffs on China and initially promised tariffs on Canada and Mexico, before rescheduling the tariffs dates. During a Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo on March 9, 2025, Trump did not rule out the possibility that the US economy would enter a recession. He said his economic policy would cause short-term turbulence but would be economically beneficial in the long term.[80]
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on March 16, 2025, that the US economy might enter a recession [citation needed].
Tariffs
On February 1, 2025, Trump signed three executive orders imposing a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10 percent tariff on China, originally due to take effect on February 4.[81] A lower 10 percent tariff was announced for all energy exports from Canada, including electricity, natural gas, and oil. Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro, stated that the lower rate for energy was intended to "minimize any disruptive effects".[82] In response, representatives from Mexico and Canada announced intentions to impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States, which if implemented could lead to an increase in tariff rates in accordance with a clause reportedly included in the orders signed by Trump.[83][84] On February 3, Trump announced that the tariffs on both Mexico and Canada would be paused for one month after the countries agreed to take further steps to prevent the trafficking of drugs into the United States.[85][86] On March 3, Trump announced he would impose the tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico. The tariffs went into effect on March 4 triggering a trade war with Canada, China, and Mexico.[87][88] On April 2, a day Trump nicknamed "Liberation Day", Trump announced a baseline 10% universal import tariff on all imported goods even higher rates for 57 trading partners. These tariffs and retaliatory tariffs from other nations resulted in an immediate U.S. stock market crash and resulted in a bear market.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Trump signed numerous executive orders attempting to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, particularly targeting transgender Americans. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," which required federal departments to recognize gender as a male-female binary determined by sex assigned at conception and ceased all funding for gender affirming care.[89][90][91] Trump also signed an order which ordered federal agencies to fire all workers involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.[92]
Trump signed another executive order partially revoking Equal Employment Opportunity and banning government contracts from being given to private organizations which enforce DEI frameworks.[93] On February 5, Trump signed an order intending to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports.[94]
At a press conference held in January 2025, the day after a mid-air collision between an airplane and helicopter that killed 67 people, the worst aviation accident in the U.S. since 2001, Trump read from a January 2024 New York Post article that said "the FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency's website."[95]
Foreign policy
Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the social media app TikTok was banned in the United States on January 19, one day before Trump took office. Critics had argued that the app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, was a national security threat. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order pausing the ban for 75 days.[96]
Trump also signed orders reinstating Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terror,[97] reversing sanctions on Israeli settlers,[98] and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization.[99] On January 24, 2025, President Trump reinstated the Mexico City policy.[100]
Government organization
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On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary organization headed by Elon Musk which aimed to reduce wasteful and fraudulent federal spending, and eliminate excessive regulations.[101] He also signed an order to freeze new regulations and hiring for federal workers.[102]
On January 23, 2025, Trump signed an executive order to declassify files concerning the assassination of John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.[103]
On January 28, the Office of Personnel Management offered a "deferred resignation" scheme to federal government employees to announce their resignation by February 6, while stating that employees who resigned would still receive salary and benefits until September 30, 2025.[104]
The Trump administration, led by DOGE, targeted numerous federal agencies for weakening or outright abolishment. This included USAID, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.[105][106][107]
On January 27, 2025, the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released memo M-25-13, which ordered the federal government to take action the next day to temporarily freeze all federal funding while programs were being reviewed for compliance with Trump's executive orders.[108] The memo sparked considerable uncertainty among government employees, lawmakers and nonprofit organizations, with Medicaid portals, FAFSA, and other programs being shut down across the country.[109] After several organizations sued, the OMB memo was temporarily blocked by United States District Judge Loren AliKhan, with the memo being withdrawn on the 29th.[110][111]
In his first 100 days, Trump has been noted for making sweeping assertions of executive authority, and challenging several Congressional laws and parts of the Constitution restraining presidential power.[112][113][114]
Pardons
Trump issued a proclamation that granted clemency to about 1,500 people convicted of offenses related to the January 6 United States Capitol attack that occurred near the end of his first presidential term.[115] He also commuted the sentences of many members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers including Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes.[116][117]
Trump's grant of clemency was described by counterterrorism researchers as encouraging future political violence.[118] Employees in the Justice Department and legal scholars called the pardons an unprecedented and dangerous use of the pardon and created a mockery of federal law enforcement, their work, and the US justice system.[119]
Many of the pardoned rioters had prior convictions for rape, child sexual exploitation, domestic violence, manslaughter, drug trafficking, and other crimes.[120][121]
Additionally, on January 21, 2025, Trump granted Ross Ulbricht, who was convicted of running a darknet market known as Silk Road, facilitating trade in narcotics, a full and unconditional pardon.[122] This fulfilled a campaign promise Trump made during his speech at the Libertarian National Convention.[123]
On January 23, 2025, Trump granted pardons to 23 anti-abortion protestors. Among the 23 pardoned were Lauren Handy and nine of her co-defendants, who were involved in the October 2020 blockade of a Washington, D.C., abortion clinic, and later convicted in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.[124][125]
Speech to a joint session of Congress
The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, gave his fifth public address before a joint session of the United States Congress on March 4, 2025.
During the joint session, Trump addressed topics such as cutting government deficits, economy, inflation, and more. Trump reiterated most of his campaign promises within his speech.
Trump gave the longest lasting speech in 61 years, lasting 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Reactions
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Polling
On January 21, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 47 percent of adult Americans approve of Trump's performance as president, while 41 percent disapprove.[126] The poll also found that his pardons of people convicted of offenses related to the January 6 United States Capitol attack were unpopular.[127] CNN analyst Harry Enten interpreted the poll's findings as "a sign that the American people, at least initially, like what they are seeing."[128] On January 28, Reuters/Ipsos reported that Trump's approval rating decreased to 45 percent, with an increase to disapproval to 46 percent.[129] On January 29, Gallup polling found that Trump's 47 percent inaugural approval rating was historically low and similar to his 45 percent inaugural approval rating in his first term. He remained the only elected president with sub-50 percent inaugural approval ratings, and his latest 48 percent disapproval ratings were three percentage points higher than in 2017, marking a new high for inaugural disapproval ratings.[130]
A February 9, 2025 poll by CBS found that a majority of the 2,175 U.S. adults interviewed from February 5–7 found Trump "tough", "energetic", "focused" and "effective", and as "doing what he'd promised during his campaign" whether they approved of it or not, with many saying "he's doing more than they expected". It found that a majority both expressed support for his immigration policies but also that they also thought he wasn't doing enough to lower prices.[131] On February 20, 2025, Politico reported on two new polls from CNN/SSRS and The Washington Post/Ipsos that found Trump's support slipping, with a majority saying that he had overstepped his presidential authority and hadn't done enough to address high prices. The Post also found 58% disapproved of his wide layoffs of federal employees and only 34% approved of Elon Musk's role in government.[132]
Protests
Initial protests of the second Trump presidency began with the People's March, a protest which took place in Washington D.C. and various locations around the country two days before Trump took office, which went on various political issues. The protests were largely considered to be less significant and attracted smaller crowds than the 2017 Women's March and others during Trump's first presidency.[133] The Day Without Immigrants took place in February 2025, which protested against Trump's immigration policies, similar to the Day Without Immigrants (2017) protests.[134][135]
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector general continues working in protest
On January 29, 2025, security guards escorted USDA Inspector General Phyllis K Fong, out of her office, following her dismissal by newly installed President Trump. The previous Friday, Fong and Inspector Generals from 16 other agencies received an email from the White House informing them of their immediate terminations.[136] Despite the emailed notice of termination, she continued working in protest of what Fong, Democratic leaders, and several journalists stated was the illegal firing of inspector generals across 17 different agencies.[137] The New York Times summarizes,
"The firings defied a law that requires presidents to give Congress 30 days’ advance notice before removing any inspector general, along with reasons for the firing. Just two years ago, Congress strengthened that provision by requiring the notice to include a “substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons” for the removal." [138]
Media and critics called the sudden termination the “late-night purge,” questioning the intentions and legality of the mass firings of inspector generals often referred to as "independent watchdogs".[139] Fong worked at USDA for 22 years. At the time of her dismissal her office monitored the rising avian influenza outbreaks. She also oversaw investigations into food safety, animal welfare violations, and financial audits within the department.[140]
See also
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References
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