Donald Trump began his second term as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party and previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021. Trump won the 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris. During his presidency, the Republican Party also controls both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
On his first day in office, Trump pardoned about 1,500 people convicted for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. In his first month, he signed around 70 executive orders, which is more than recent presidents. Some of these orders are being challenged in court.
For immigration, he signed orders blocking asylum seekers from entering the U.S., reinstated a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, declared drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and attempted to end birthright citizenship. The first law he signed was the Laken Riley Act.
Trump also created a new government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and appointed businessman Elon Musk to lead it. This agency focuses on cutting government spending and reducing the number of government employees.
Foreign Policies
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. He started a trade war with Canada and Mexico and continued trade tensions with China. He also suggested the U.S. should annex Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal.
Regarding the Gaza War, Trump proposed that the U.S. take control of Gaza, relocate Palestinians to other Arab countries, and turn Gaza into a tourist destination. In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he briefly stopped U.S. military and intelligence aid to Ukraine, demanded part of Ukraine’s resources as repayment for past support, and suggested that Ukraine was partly responsible for the war. The U.S. resumed aid after Ukraine considered a ceasefire.
🔗 Trump’s Second Term Executive Orders
Controversial Orders and Reactions
Trump’s second term makes him the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms. He is also the oldest person to assume the presidency.
On his first day, he reversed many policies from the previous administration. He withdrew from international agreements, changed gender identity recognition policies, reinstated Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers, changed artificial intelligence policies, and dissolved the Family Reunification Task Force. He also delayed the government’s TikTok ban, declared a national emergency at the southern border, and sent the U.S. military there.
Many of Trump’s executive orders have been controversial, with some potentially violating laws or the Constitution. Reports from Time and Bloomberg Government suggest that many of his actions align with Project 2025, a conservative policy plan.