Topline
Title: Everything Trump Promised to Undertake on His First Day in Office
President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House on Monday, promising a series of bold actions on his first day in office, encompassing topics such as immigration, the economy, climate change, and more.
Key Facts
According to Associated Press and Reuters reports, Trump is allegedly planning to issue over 100 executive orders upon reaching the Oval Office, with approximately 25 of these orders expected to be signed on Inauguration Day. These actions stem from Trump's numerous campaign pledges, including promises concerning his initial hours in the White House.
TikTok: Trump vows to postpone the TikTok ban, which took effect Sunday, by signing an executive order on Inauguration Day. He aims to negotiate a deal between TikTok's current owner, ByteDance (China-based), and potential new US investors to safeguard national security.
Immigration: Trump intends to launch the largest deportation program in US history, targeting undocumented immigrants, upon seizing power. Concurrently, he plans to close the border to undocumented immigrants, rescind Biden-era immigration policies and reinstate travel bans on individuals from certain predominantly-Muslim countries.
Birthright Citizenship: Despite recognizing the concept's constitutional protections, Trump aspires to terminate birthright citizenship via executive action, if feasible.
Economy: Trump's campaign pledges include imposing high tariffs on imports from other countries, which economists warn would adversely impact American consumers. Reports suggest that his inaugural executive orders may include imposing 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico, as well as additional taxes on Chinese imports.
Climate Change: Trump intends to retract the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act, a climate change-focused law enacted in 2022. Nevertheless, Trump cannot unilaterally repeal federal legislation.
Energy: Trump's energy policy prioritizes oil production, with catchphrases like "drill, baby, drill." He may take immediate steps to overturn Biden-era regulations curbing oil drilling and limit renewable energy, including offshore wind projects.
Education: Trump has suggested eliminating federal funding for schools that teach topics such as critical race theory, transgender content, and related subjects. Schools with vaccine or mask mandates might also face financial repercussions.
Jan. 6 Pardons: Trump has publicly stated his intention to investigate Jan. 6 riot participants' cases in his opening days in office. While he advocates for pardoning the majority considered non-violent offenders, he emphasizes reviewing each case individually.
No Tax on Tips: Trump has pledged to eliminate income taxes on earned tips, but would require legislative action for the proposition to become law.
Federal Workforce: Trump wants to restore an executive order, known as "Schedule F," enacted during his first term, making it easier to dismiss career civil servants who dispute the president's political agenda.
Crucial Quote
“Prepare for a whirlwind,” Trump warned the public, foreshadowing the breadth of executive actions and policy shifts he plans to implement on day one.
Surprising Fact
Trump has previously suggested he wants to govern as a "dictator" for his first day in office, causing uproar before the election when he told Fox News host Sean Hannity that, "I'm not going to be a dictator, except for day one. We're closing the border and we're drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator."
What Else Could Trump Do On Day One?
While Trump has made numerous specific promises, numerous reports suggest further actions he may take during his initial days in office. Cryptocurrency executives are pushing for Trump to establish a federal Bitcoin stockpile immediately upon assuming office. Anonymous source references cited by NBC News assert that Trump is preparing to take steps restricting transgender military members' access to gender-affirming care and rescinding Biden-era guidance allowing military members to be reimbursed for traveling for abortion care.
What We Don’t Know
Exactly which of Trump's day one proposals will materialize, despite his public declarations. Many campaign promises are complex to implement, requiring legislative action or overcoming legal challenges. Anonymous sources linked to Trump acknowledged to Reuters that executing various directives would be challenging, and predicted more orders would be rolled out in the days and weeks following Inauguration Day. Priorities for the opening day focus on immigration policies counteracting Biden's border measures, as well as energy production and drilling initiatives.
Contra
Trump suggested not all of his first-day promises should be taken seriously, stating in an interview with Joe Rogan that, "There's a hundred things you can say" in response to the question of what he would do on his first day in office, suggesting that he was being hyperbolic.
Will Trump’s Day One Orders Hold Up In Court?
Trump's more contentious orders are likely to be quickly challenged in court, even if implemented quickly or shortly after Inauguration Day. However, even seemingly unlawful orders may temporarily become the law of the land. Steve Vladeck, a constitutional law expert from Georgetown University Law Center, noted, "A lot, but not all, of what Trump says he wants to do on day one is going to be illegal or impractical. But even the illegal stuff might go into effect for some time, and he might actually succeed in pushing the law in his direction."
- Upon reaching the Oval Office, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to issue over 100 executive orders, with some being signed on his inauguration day, as reported by Associated Press and Reuters.
- One of the executive orders Trump might sign on his first day in office is to postpone the TikTok ban, aiming to negotiate a deal between ByteDance (China-based) and potential US investors.
- Regarding immigration, Donald Trump plans to launch a mass deportation program targeting undocumented immigrants and close the border to undocumented immigrants on his first day in office.
- On his first day, Trump may also intend to issue executive orders to impose high tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, as part of his campaign pledges.
- Trump has expressed his desire to retract the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act on his first day in office, but noted that he cannot unilaterally repeal federal legislation.
