Here's what Trump did on his first day in office
FILE-President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump returned to the White House and signed multiple executive orders on his first day in office aimed at immigration, transgender protection, the environment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Here’s a recap of what executive orders he signed and other actions he took on Jan. 20.
Deportation program
Donald Trump announced his plan to launch the "largest deportation program in American history." The plan includes ending President Joe Biden’s catch-and-release policies, reinstating "Remain in Mexico," building the border wall, ending asylum for people crossing the border illegally, cracking down on criminal sanctuaries, and "enhancing vetting and screening of aliens," according to a White House email on Monday.
RELATED: Trump launches promised deportation program on 1st day in office
Trump’s deportation operation will address the record border "crossings of criminal aliens under the prior administration." A key announcement was the effort to end birthright citizenship — one of Trump’s most sweeping immigration efforts yet.
The Associated Press reported that birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment that was ratified in 1868 in the wake of the Civil War and assured citizenship for all, including Black people.
Trump signs order attempting to end birthright citizenship
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday as he tries to end birthright citizenship
What they're saying:
Trump said he favored legal immigration as he signed orders declaring a national emergency on the U.S. border with Mexico, suspending refugee resettlement and ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States.
RELATED: Trump executive action attempts to end birthright citizenship
The commander-in-chief acknowledged an imminent legal challenge to overturning birthright citizenship and said automatic citizenship was "just ridiculous." He added that he believed he was on "good (legal) ground" to change it.
Birthright citizenship has been established in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, meaning Trump’s attempts to stop the policy will likely face legal challenges.
Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump
By the numbers:
The president pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of assaulting police officers, using his clemency powers on his first day back in office to undo the massive prosecution of the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.
RELATED: Trump pardons people convicted in the Jan. 6 riot on 1st day in office
He also ordered the attorney general to seek the dismissal of roughly 450 cases that are pending before judges stemming from the largest investigation in Justice Department history.
Trump’s move clears a path for the release from prison of individuals found guilty of violent attacks on police, and leaders of far-right extremist groups convicted of botched attempts to keep Trump in power after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump rolling back protections for transgender people
What we know:
Based on Donald Trump’s executive order, the definition of what is male or female will be based on whether people are born with eggs or sperm, rather than on their chromosomes.
The change is being pitched to protect women from "gender extremism."
RELATED: Trump inauguration speech: US policy will reflect 'only two genders'
Under the order, federal prisons and shelters for migrants and rape victims would be segregated by sex as defined by the order. And federal taxpayer money could not be used to fund "transition services."
Medicaid in some states covers such treatments, but judges put on hold a Biden administration rule that would have extended that nationally.
Additionally, the order would also block requirements at government facilities and at workplaces that transgender people be referred to using the pronouns that align with their gender. Trump’s team says those requirements violate the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and religion.
Trump also revoked protections for transgender military personnel that Biden had signed. There are an estimated 9,000 to 14,000 transgender troops.
What we don't know:
Trump’s order does not appear to issue a nationwide mandate on which bathrooms transgender people can use or which sports competitions they can join, though many states have passed laws on those areas.
Regulations, DEI, and climate pact targeted in executive order
Halts 78 Biden-era executive actions
Trump rescinded dozens of directives issued by Biden, including those relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Withdrawal from the Paris climate treaty
Trump said he will again withdraw the United States, a top carbon polluting nation, from the landmark Paris climate agreement, dealing a blow to worldwide efforts to combat global warming and once again distancing the U.S. from its closest allies.
RELATED: Trump signs 1st executive orders: Targets regulations, diversity programs, and climate pact
Regulatory freeze preventing bureaucrats from issuing regulations until the Trump administration has full control of the government
Donald Trump wants to lower the role of federal bureaucrats and to cut regulations across economic sectors.
The president frames all regulatory cuts as an economic magic wand. He pledges significant drops in household utility bills by removing barriers to fossil fuel production, including opening all federal lands for exploration — even though U.S. energy production is already at record highs.
He promises to release housing construction by cutting regulations — though most construction rules come from state and local governments. Trump also claims he would end "frivolous litigation from the environmental extremists."
Trump signs order to keep TikTok open temporarily
President Donald Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day reprieve to continue operating in the U.S., allowing its China-based parent company additional time to secure a U.S. buyer.
RELATED: Trump signs order to keep TikTok open for 75 days
As part of his remarks, Trump hinted that the United States should receive 50% ownership of the platform, which he estimated to be worth $1 trillion. The move provides temporary relief for TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users, but national security concerns and legal questions about the order persist.
Trump rolls back environmental protections
Trump signed an executive order reversing climate policies aimed at reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
RELATED: Trump to reopen waters for drilling, rolling back environmental protections
He rolled back environmental protections, halted wind projects, scuttled the Biden administration’s targets that encouraged the switch to electric cars and abolished standards for companies to become more environmentally friendly.
Directive to every department and agency to address the cost-of-living crisis
Trump also signed a directive telling federal agencies to conduct a 30-day review of how they can help to lower the costs of housing, health care, food, energy, and home appliances as well as finding ways to bring more people into the workforce.
Freezing all federal hiring except for military and a few other essential areas
Donald Trump has said he wants to halt the hiring of many federal workers until his administration is fully established.
A requirement that federal workers return to full-time in-person work
Federal workers will have to return to the office immediately.