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By Amanda Castro , Hannah Parry AND Michael D. Carroll
Donald Trump has pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters in one of his first acts as the 47th President of the United States.
"These are the hostages," he said while signing the pardon paperwork in the Oval Office. Another six have received commutations.
Trump has long-promised to release the supporters who tried to overthrow the election when he lost to Joe Biden.
The president also signed an executive action to try to end birthright citizenship.
"Birthright. That's a big one," he said, as he signed it. Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and would need to addressed via constitutional amendment or the courts.
Earlier this afternoon, Trump signed several orders in front of supporters at the Inauguration Day parade at the Capitol One Arena, including the repeal of 78 Biden-era executive actions and the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Treaty.
An executive order designating cartel organizations as "foreign terrorist organizations."
Declared a "national emergency" at the U.S.-Mexico border
A freeze on all federal hiring, including the IRS. The freeze does not include military hiring
An order that federal workers return to full-time in-person work
An order restoring freedom of speech and preventing censorship of free speech
An order ending the "weaponization" of law enforcement and the government
Newsweek's live blog is closed.
Trump did not sign tariffs into immediate effect today, but said he could start the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico on February 1.
He declined to give a date on China tariffs.
He is signing multiple additional executive actions, after signing earlier orders from the Capitol One Arena.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces before storming the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images
As Donald Trump takes office for his second term Monday, a new poll shows that many of his top policy priorities lack broad support among Americans.
While eliminating federal taxes on tipped income is widely popular, other initiatives—including pardoning Jan. 6 participants, mass deportations, and tariffs on foreign goods—are met with resistance.
The AP-NORC poll, conducted Jan. 9—13 among 1,147 U.S. adults, provides a snapshot of public opinion as Trump assumes office. While the president-elect claims a "powerful mandate," the survey indicates divisions not only between Republicans and Democrats but also within his own voter base.
Nonetheless, there is a bipartisan will to get things done. A separate poll from the same organization shows 73 percent of Republicans and 77 percent of Democrats agree their parties should prioritize making real changes even it means compromising over sticking to their positions.
A cargo ship and tugboat sail through the Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, in Panama, on August 12, 2024. Next August 15 the Panama Canal celebrates its 110th inauguration anniversary. Getty Images
Panama President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected President Donald Trump's assertion, made during his inaugural speech on Monday, that the United States will "take back" the Panama Canal.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mulino reaffirmed Panama's sovereignty over the canal, emphasizing that the waterway will remain under Panamanian control in accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaty signed in 1977.
"I must fully reject the statements made by President Donald Trump regarding Panama and its Canal in his inaugural address. I reiterate what I said in my message to the nation on December 22: the Canal is and will remain Panamanian," Mulino said.
During his inaugural address, Trump said the spirit of a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter, which relinquished control of the canal in 1999, had been breached. "The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated," he said.
He said that the waterway should have never been given away and that "American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly." He also repeated his claim that "China is operating the Panama Canal." Earlier this month, he said he would not rule out military force to take control of it.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) arrives to testify during his Senate Foreign Relations confirmation hearing at Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Getty Images/Kevin Dietsch
The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State on Monday evening, by a vote of 99-0.
He is the first nominee to be confirmed by the Senate and Republicans have pledged to work to confirm as many Trump nominees as possible during his first week so the president can hit the ground running.
Rubio's prominent role in Trump's Cabinet is particularly noteworthy given the rocky relationship the two men shared since first campaigning for the 2016 Republican nomination.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously voted to send Rubio's nomination to the floor earlier Monday evening.
Donald Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders at the Capital One Arena.
The full list includes:
A repeal of 78 Biden-era executive actions
A regulatory freeze preventing government bureaucrats from issuing any further regulations until the Trump administration has taken full control
A freeze on all federal hiring, including the IRS. The freeze does not include military hiring
An order that federal workers return to full-time in-person work
A directive to every department and agency to address the spiraling cost of living
Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty
An order restoring freedom of speech and preventing censorship of free speech
An order ending the "weaponization" of law enforcement and the government
Trump has announced he is also signing executive orders that state:
U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord
Tariffs will be imposed, as Trump says "Tariffs are going to make us rich as hell."
An order to "stop the weaponization of law enforcement and our government." Trump said the order will demand the preservation of all records relating to "political persecution."
The Senate on Monday approved a migrant detention bill, known as the Laken Riley Act.
It means the bill will likely be the first that Trump signs into law.
Trump said he is signing an executive order to stop the taxation of tips, a popular policy he floated on his campaign trail.
"We're going to have no tax on tips," he announced, ahead of the signing.
Trump also aid he is planning to sign executive orders that would freeze hiring of government bureaucrats and IRS agents.
Donald Trump said he is signing an executive order to revoke nearly 80 executive actions made by the Biden adminstration.
"I'll revoke nearly 80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration," he said.
Donald Trump marked his return to the White House on Monday by hinting at a series of immigration-related executive orders, including a controversial move to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to immigrants without legal status.
An official told reporters during a press call that the president plans to sign an order clarifying the language in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants citizenship to all individuals born on U.S. soil. The order would exclude children born to parents who are in the country illegally. According to the official, the changes would apply only to future births.
Birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli, is the legal principle that grants automatic citizenship to individuals born within a country's territory, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status. In the United States, this practice is protected under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which states that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens. This policy has been central to debates over immigration and national identity.
Trump has issued an executive order to lower the U.S. flag "upon the end of this Inauguration Day."
The order stipulates that the flag will be lowered on Inauguration Day and remain at half-staff until January 28, marking the end of a 30-day period of remembrance for the late former President Jimmy Carter.
Trump has appointed several acting officials to temporarily fulfill key roles in his administration, as outlined in a recent directive from the White House. The individuals, who will serve in an acting capacity until permanent appointments are made, include, according to the White House:
Gary Washington as Secretary of Agriculture
Jeremy Pelter as Secretary of Commerce
Robert Salesses as Secretary of Defense
Mark Averill as Secretary of the Army
Terence Emmert as Secretary of the Navy
Gary Ashworth as Secretary of the Air Force
Denise Carter as Secretary of Education
Ingrid Kolb as Secretary of Energy
Dorothy Fink as Secretary of Health and Human Services
Benjamine Huffman as Secretary of Homeland Security
Matthew Ammon as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Walter Cruickshank as Secretary of the Interior
James McHenry as Attorney General
Vincent Micone as Secretary of Labor
Lisa Kenna as Secretary of State
David Lebryk as Secretary of the Treasury
Judith Kaleta as Secretary of Transportation
Todd Hunter as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
James Payne as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Everett Woodel as Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Matthew Vaeth as Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Stacey Dixon as Director of National Intelligence
Juan Millan as United States Trade Representative
Thomas Sylvester, Jr. as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Charles Ezell as Director of the Office of Personnel Management
Stephen Ehikian as Administrator of General Services
Michelle King as Commissioner of Social Security
Brian Driscoll as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Jason Gray as Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
Janet Petro as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Caleb Vitello as Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Trump began signing his first executive actions shortly after his inauguration, sitting at an ornate desk flanked by members of Congress from both parties. One of the signed documents was related to Cabinet duties, while another directed that U.S. flags be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day.
This move came in response to the flag protocol established by former President Joe Biden, who had ordered flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days to honor the late former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in late December. Trump had expressed opposition to this order and chose to reverse it, ensuring flags would be raised for the day's ceremonies.
The Trump administration has released a comprehensive agenda centered on border security, economic affordability, government reform, and the reinforcement of American values. This blueprint, titled "America First Priorities," highlights a range of actions aimed at addressing national and international concerns.
Key Policy Areas
Border Security and Safety
Trump plans to reinstate strict immigration policies, including "Remain in Mexico," the construction of border walls, and the suspension of refugee resettlement. Measures will also involve deploying the National Guard for border security and designating certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Energy and Affordability
The administration intends to expand domestic energy production by reversing environmental regulations and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord. Policies will streamline permitting processes and reduce regulatory burdens, aiming to lower costs for American families.
Government Reform
A freeze on non-essential federal hiring, accountability measures for government employees, and efforts to reduce bureaucracy are central to the administration's plan. Trump also aims to combat alleged politicization within government agencies and protect free speech rights.
Cultural and Social Values
The agenda emphasizes protecting traditional gender definitions and honoring American history through the preservation of national landmarks.
Donald Trump said that the nation is entering "the golden age of America," and vowed to "put America first."
"A tide of change is sweeping the country," he said. "Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before."
Trump also pledged to reform the Justice Department, promising to end what he called the "vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization" of government agencies. "The scales of justice will be rebalanced," he said.
Trump will sign an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, an aide confirmed. While the formal departure will take about a year according to U.N. rules, the order signals a shift in U.S. policy under Trump's administration, moving away from efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Trump had previously withdrawn the country from the global accord during his first term, and Biden had rejoined the agreement during his presidency.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to announce sweeping immigration reforms later today, which include signing 10 executive orders aimed at tightening border security and cracking down on illegal immigration.
Newsweek obtained details on four of the 10 executive orders Trump is expected to sign regarding border security and immigration following his inauguration.
The executive orders will include deploying U.S. troops to the southern border, ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, dismantling programs initiated under President Joe Biden, and taking steps to target transnational criminal gangs, incoming White House officials told reporters in a press call.
The Trump administration is set to order an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, according to an administration official. This move will impact hiring practices, environmental justice programs, equity-related grants, and equity action plans within federal agencies.
The decision marks a significant reversal of policies put in place during President Biden's first day in office when he signed an executive order focused on racial equity. The Trump administration's new directive aims to dismantle these DEI efforts, which had been central to the Biden administration's goals for advancing racial and social justice across federal programs and services.
Trump is set to declare a national emergency at the U.S. southern border with Mexico on Inauguration Day, according to an incoming administration official. The official revealed that Trump will also announce plans to deploy additional armed forces to assist in securing the border.
In addition to these measures, Trump is expected to designate criminal cartels as designated global terrorists, a move that will escalate efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking along the border, Newsweek confirmed. The declarations come as part of his administration's broader focus on border security and addressing what Trump has called a national crisis.
The executive orders will include deploying U.S. troops to the southern border, ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, dismantling programs initiated under President Joe Biden, and taking steps to target transnational criminal gangs, incoming White House officials told reporters in a press call.
"The President and his team today will immediately prioritize tackling the national security and public safety threats that have resulted from our open border. So here are some of the things that we're doing to rectify this. Today, specifically, number one, we are going to declare a national emergency at the border," the incoming white house official told reporters on a press call.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to implement a series of executive orders on his first day in office, focusing on border security and immigration reform. According to Fox News, the key measures include:
Completion of the border wall: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) will be directed to finalize the construction of the border wall. Personnel will be deployed to take control of the border, and parole policies, such as the CBP One App, will be terminated. The migrant flights program will be discontinued, and the practice of catch and release will end. The "Remain in Mexico" policy will be reinstated.
Deployment of U.S. troops: U.S. troops will be stationed at the border under Northern Command (NORTHCOM) to support enforcement efforts.
Designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations: Cartels, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13, will be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, granting authorities greater latitude in disrupting their operations.
These actions are part of a broader strategy to address border security and immigration issues, with the incoming administration aiming to implement significant changes on its first day in office.
https://www.newsweek.com/inauguration-day-2025-donald-trump-schedule-live-updates-2017568