Donald Trump was sworn in for a historic second term as US president on Monday, capping his extraordinary return. In his first speech after the oath, he mentioned a blitz of immediate orders on immigration gender identity policies, immigration, climate and energy policy among other things. These executive orders are mainly aimed at fulfilling his poll promises.
“I will declare a national emergency at our southern border” with Mexico, Trump said to loud cheers from supporters inside the ornate Rotunda hall, vowing to deport “millions and millions” of illegal immigrants.
Earlier, an incoming White House told reporters, “We are going to declare a national emergency at the border,” said the official. “The Executive Order directs the military to prioritise our borders and territorial integrity.”
He also said that he will declare a national energy emergency aimed at boosting US oil and gas production and lowering costs for US consumers.
“The inflation crisis was caused by massive over-spending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency,” Trump said in the US Capitol. “We will drill, baby, drill.”
The US president said that his government’s official policy would only recognise two genders. “I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life… As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
Trump’s executive orders will also target diversity programs, moving swiftly to deliver on divisive campaign promises to dismantle “woke” culture.
“The Department of Treasury — this is a little a while ago now — included diversity training that said all white people, regardless of how woke they are, contribute to racism. So this type of funding, we’re going to end at these (diversity) programs. We’re going to end that,” the official added.
On the campaign trail, Trump criticised diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and in the corporate world, saying they discriminated against white people – men in particular.
One of the orders will intend to end birthright citizenship for US-born children whose parents lack legal immigration status. “The federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States,” the official said.
Citing the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, the official said, “We are also going to enhance vetting and screening of illegal aliens”.
An executive order is an order issued unilaterally by the president who carries the force of law. Unlike legislation, executive orders do not require Congressional approval. Though Congress cannot overturn them, they can be challenged in a court of law.
As per Stephen Miller, a close associate of Trump, the orders will be around these five points – sealing the Southern border, mass deportation, preventing transgender people from women’s sports, removing restrictions on energy exploration and improving government efficiency. Among his executive orders is expected to be pardoning his supporters who were arrested by law enforcement agencies for their role in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6 four years ago.
The 78-year-old is also expected to roll back some of the orders and actions of the outgoing President Joe Biden. Prominent among them include the Paris Climate Agreement, lifting restrictions on fossil fuel production and expanding domestic oil drilling.
Trump has made history by replacing Biden as the oldest president to be sworn in. He is also just the second president in US history to return to power after being voted out, after Grover Cleveland in 1893.
