Now back at the White House, President Trump has signed over 20 executive actions from the Oval Office tonight. Among them are:
- A full pardon for approximately 1,500 January 6 defendants
- Various executive powers with respect to the southern border
- A realignment of the United States’ refugee program
- Protecting the United States from certain foreign terrorist organizations
- Designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
- Protecting Americans from illegal entrants on the southern border
- Revoking birthright citizenship
- Declaring a national emergency with respect to the southern border
- Executive actions to secure the southern border
- Reforming the system of hiring in the Federal government to elevate merit
- Creating and implementing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
- Unleashing Alaska’s potential as an energy resource (including ANWR)
- An order allowing the President to sell or close TikTok
- Reforms to the Federal workforce
- Holding government officials accountable for unlawful disclosures
- Declaring a national energy emergency
- Unleashing energy production
- Easing permitting to produce energy
- Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Protecting women from radical gender ideology
- Establishing America First trade agenda (without immediate tariffs)
- Reevaluating foreign aid
All are (or will be shortly) available on the White House’s Presidential Actions website.
Additional Remarks
- Tariffs. In answer to a question from a White House Pool reporter about tariffs, President Trump remarked that he’s “thinking about” enacting “25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada” by February 1. President Trump did not, however, sign any executive orders related tariffs this evening. When asked if he’d impose universal tariffs, Trump said “we may” but “we’re not ready for that yet.” Further, he said that universal tariffs might be placed on those companies already doing business within the United States.
- Denmark. President Trump called it “a beautiful place” and asserted that “Denmark will come along,” presumably with a deal. He further opined that Denmark is important to us for “international security” and “they [Denmark] can’t maintain it.”
- Foreign Trips. Trump noted that the first foreign trip of a new President is typically with the UK but instead he went to Saudi Arabia in his first term. When asked if he’d travel to China this year, he remarked that he “could” and that they’ve invited him.
- Ukraine. The President said that he would try to end the Ukraine war “as quickly as possible.” With respect to actions taken against Russia to bring them to the table, Trump opined that “sanctions or tariffs” would be used but that tariffs are better.
- Israel/Saudi Arabia. In answer to a reporter’s question about bringing Israel and Saudi Arabia together to normalize relations, President Trump indicated he thought it would happen and that it would build upon the Abraham Accords.
- TikTok. Asked about the divestment of TikTok from ByteDance, President Trump opined that a deal should involve the U.S. getting “half of TikTok” and that it would be worth “a trillion dollars.” Without a “joint venture,” TikTok would “be worthless.” If China doesn’t approve it, he noted that he could put tariffs on them.
- Gaza. Responding to the devastation, Trump talked about rebuilding the territory, commenting that it’s a “fantastic location on the sea” and many things could be done.
- Inflation. The President believes that the “biggest factor” for addressing inflation is energy policy/production.
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