Just after his inauguration as President of the United States, Donald Trump issued a number of decrees on Monday as part of his return to power. Some of these bold decisions could, however, prove difficult to implement and should give rise to strong legal opposition.
Among his measures, Trump declared a state of emergency on the Mexican border, promised mass expulsions, withdrew from the Paris climate agreement and granted pardons to many Capitol attackers. Barely reinvested, he acted quickly.
The feasibility of several of these spectacular decisions could pose a problem and will undoubtedly create legal disputes. Some even seem to exceed the limits of the American Constitution.
From his inauguration speech, the great anti-immigration offensive so announced by Trump took shape. “We will immediately stop all illegal entries and return millions of criminal immigrants to their countries of origin,” he said. He also announced the sending of troops to the southern border to counter this “invasion” which he describes as catastrophic for the country. The same evening, he signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency on the border with Mexico.
Trump plans to also attack asylum and citizenship through the ground. First immediate consequence: the asylum application platform set up by the Biden administration was suspended, thus canceling all scheduled appointments.
The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris agreement is underway: Trump illustrated this approach by signing one of his first decrees on a desk set up in front of his supporters in Washington. The decision, taken by the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, undermines global initiatives against climate change and is expected to come into effect within a year. The United States had already left this treaty during Trump’s first term, before the return under Joe Biden.
A convinced climate skeptic, Trump also proclaimed a “state of energy emergency” to increase hydrocarbon production in the United States. “We will drill relentlessly,” he insisted, referring to his campaign slogan: “We will drill, baby, drill.” In addition, he surprised by announcing the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
Take back the Panama Canal
“We are going to take back the Panama Canal,” Trump said. This canal, built by the United States, was handed over to Panama in 1999 after a 1977 agreement. “It was an insane gift,” he said. “The terms of our treaty have been violated. American ships are being overtaxed and China is profiting from it.” Panamanian President José Raul Mulino responded that “the canal belongs and will continue to belong to Panama.”
-Regarding Greenland, which he also wants to gain control of, Trump was “certain that Denmark will eventually understand that the United States needs it for international security.”
Thanks to the Capitol attackers
More than 1,500 participants in the siege of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 were pardoned upon his return to power, the one who had claimed that Biden’s election was “rigged”. For the remaining fourteen convicts, their sentences were reduced to the period already served. “We hope they will be released this evening,” Trump said. The ongoing proceedings against around a hundred people are also canceled.
This decision was described as “an insult to the justice system” by Nancy Pelosi, former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Customs duties from February
“We will impose tariffs and taxes on foreign countries for the good of our citizens,” Trump said in his inauguration speech. He specified that these duties could reach “25% for Mexico and Canada,” starting February 1. However, these two neighbors are theoretically protected by a free trade agreement signed during his first mandate.
“End the transgender madness” was also one of his campaign pledges. “Starting today, the official policy of the United States government will recognize only the distinction between two sexes, male and female,” Trump said. Federal aid for diversity programs is also targeted.
The editorial staff
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