President-elect Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders in front of thousands of supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington on Monday, while continuing to sign executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. Among the orders signed by the new president were pardoning and commuting sentences for people involved in the January 6 riots, declaring a national emergency over illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, designating criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, and withdrawing the United States from both the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization.
Trump initially began by repealing 78 Biden-era executive actions, executive orders, presidential memoranda and more, including withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement — just as he did in his first term. It is the international agreement to combat climate change, and nearly 200 countries have committed to keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally below 1,5 degrees. Each country is responsible for developing its own plan to meet the commitment.
Donald Trump also revoked executive actions that withdrew Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, that imposed sanctions on Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and that sought to reduce the risks of artificial intelligence.
He also signed an executive order ending teleworking for federal employees.
This order "mandates federal public employees to return to work at full capacity with immediate effect," an official said into the microphone as Donald Trump signed the document in a large hall in the capital in front of thousands of his supporters celebrating his return to power.
"The heads of all ministries and agencies (…) will take, as soon as possible, all necessary measures to end the provisions governing telework and will require employees to return to their assigned positions for full-time work," the White House said in a laconic statement.
They can make "exceptions" if they consider them "necessary", however, the executive order comes into effect immediately "in accordance with applicable law", according to the text.
In fact, after signing the presidential decrees, he handed out the markers to the audience that adored him. The markers are usually given to prominent members of the inner circle, such as advisers. But Trump once again put on his own show.
After his event at the Capital One Arena, President Donald Trump arrived at the White House for the first time since his inauguration as the 47th president to continue signing executive orders, the first of which concerns the pardon of the US Capitol attackers, saying that the pardon will cover 1.500 people, which appears to cover almost everyone charged in the attack on January 6, 2021.
During the signing of the executive orders in the Oval Office, Trump also found the letter that Joe Biden had left for him, but he did not open it to read in front of reporters.
Threat of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico
However, the orders do not include the tariffs he promised to impose. Trump has said he believes he will implement new tariffs on Canada and Mexico on February 1.
He told reporters in the Oval Office that he was considering imposing 25% tariffs on imports from the United States' North American neighbors. That would be about a week's reprieve from the tariffs he promised to impose on his first day in office.
Asked about tariffs on China, Trump pointed out that the tariffs he imposed as president the first time are still in effect.
Trump: I will meet with Putin
Trump said he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin once talks begin, a process he said is already underway. After saying as a candidate that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, the new US president noted that he still has half a day to achieve that goal.
"We're going to try to get it done as quickly as possible. You know, the war with Ukraine and Russia should never have started," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump: Denmark will end up giving Greenland to the US
Donald Trump predicted that Denmark will end up backing down on the issue of Greenland, an autonomous region that the Republican has recently said he intends to bring under US control.
"Greenland is a wonderful place, we need it for international security. I'm sure Denmark would embrace the idea" of giving it to the United States, Trump told reporters at the White House, noting that the territory had "cost Copenhagen dearly."
The US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, a significant move that cuts ties with the United Nations public health agency on his first day in office.
Trump has long been critical of the WHO, and his administration formally withdrew from the organization in July 2020 as the pandemic Covid-19 continued to spread.
The text of the executive order mentions the “mismanagement of the pandemic” COVID-19 that emerged from Wuhan, China and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states,” as reasons for the US withdrawal.
Among the decrees he has signed in the Oval Office are:
– Granting pardons and commuting sentences to individuals associated with the January 6 riots.
– Declaring a national emergency over illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border.
– Designation of criminal cartels as terrorist organizations,
– Suspension of the refugee resettlement program in the US for four months
– Creation of the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE (to be led by Elon Musk).
– He is challenging the federal law banning TikTok, saying the order would give him the right to “either sell it or shut it down.”
– Hold former government officials “accountable for election interference”
– To withdraw the US from the World Health Organization
– Declaring a national energy emergency to enable additional resource extraction, including drilling in Alaska
– “Protecting women from radical gender ideology.”
Here's what else Trump signed earlier at Capital One Arena:
Below is the White House announcement listing which 78 actions are being rescinded under Trump's executive order.
Regulatory freeze: The freeze will prevent bureaucrats from issuing other regulations until Trump officials assume full control of the government.
Hiring freeze: There will be a freeze on federal hiring, except for the military and certain other categories, until Trump officials gain full control.
Return to full-time work: Federal employees should immediately return to full-time work with personal work.
Cost of Living: Guidance to Every Federal Agency and Department on Addressing the Cost of Living Crisis.
Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement: This will formalize the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement again. Trump did this in his first term, but Biden had rejoined the agreement. Trump also signed a letter to the United Nations explaining the withdrawal.
Freedom of Speech: The federal government is mandated to restore freedom of speech and prevent government censorship of free expression. The First Amendment already guarantees freedom of speech in the United States.
Source: protothema.gr
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