Washington’s Big Day
At noon EST on Monday, Donald Trump became America’s 47th president inside the Capital Rotunda (see photos of the day).
After his swearing-in by Chief Justice Roberts, President Trump gave a 30-minute inaugural address that promised to usher in a “golden age of America.” He said the U.S. has “suffered greatly” under the Biden administration and promised a “proud, prosperous, and free” future. Among the President's promises were pledges to plant a flag on Mars and to retake the Panama Canal.
Within minutes of the ceremony, President Trump was down to business. Here’s a round-up of his Day 1 orders and other actions:
- Declared a national emergency at the southern border, classified drug cartels as global terrorists, and ordered the end of birthright citizenship;
- Re-left the Paris Climate Accord, revoked several Biden-era climate executive orders, and declared a national energy emergency to expedite American energy development;
- Granted full pardons to nearly all (roughly 1,500) January 6 defendants;
- Renamed the Gulf of Mexico (now “Gulf of America”) and Mount Denali (“Mount McKinley” once again);
- Ended remote work for federal employees and froze federal civilian hiring;
- Ended DEI programs across the federal government;
- Declared that the federal government would recognize only two biological sexes;
- Delayed the ban on TikTok for 75 days.
Trump kept his pen in his pocket on tariffs, quieting investors’ fears about international trade changes and giving the stock market a boost. #47 said he’d consider 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports on February 1.
Many of these orders are expected to face legal challenges, with at least 18 states suing to block his birthright citizenship order. President Trump is also facing criticism from some ethicists over the release of $TRUMP and $MELANIA meme coins, newly-created cryptocurrencies that quickly boosted the first family’s net worth by billions.
(We’re also covering this story tomorrow in Decaf, The Pour Over for Families. Sign up—for free—here.)
ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Followers of Christ are not identified by their political affiliation but by their love for God and others—including people you believe have un-loving stances. Remember compassion for your neighbors regardless of whether they’re celebrating, mourning, or indifferent to Washington’s busy week.
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (CSB) (read full passage)