His ally Elon Musk welcomed the “return of the king”, Donald Trump resumed power at a stunning pace, and in a very methodical way.
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His swearing in hearing a coronation on Monday under the dome of the Capitol – the ceremony traditionally took place in the open air, but had to be repatriated inside due to freezing cold.
In this cathedral setting, the 47th president invoked a form of divine anointing, launching: “God saved me (from an assassination attempt last summer) for me to return his greatness to America . “
A scene summarizing the first week of the second term, Trump went on Monday evening in the Oval office.
In front of journalists, the Republican signs in turn with thick black felts decrees, one of which deals with the fight against illegal immigration.
A journalist questions the Republican about a possible blockage of measures by the courts, he launches: “I don’t think they can.”
Then the former television host asks a photographer to change places and angle of view: “Go put there.”
“Transparency”
In a few minutes, Donald Trump showed his will to extend presidential power; illustrated the formidable degree of preparation for this return to the White House, with a mountain of already printed decrees and circulars; And recalled its ability to saturate the media space while controlling its image.
Live on the tarmac of an airport or in the White House, in videoconference with the big bosses of Davos or in interview on Fox News, dancing in a tuxedo a sword in hand on the evening of the investiture: since Monday, Donald Trump occupies television screens everywhere, all the time.
Where his predecessor Joe Bid was fled the press, the Republican has already answered dozens, if not hundreds of questions.
“Welcome to the White House, where truth and transparency count!” Proclaimed his spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
However, she did not regain the practice of daily “briefing” with accredited journalists.
Difficult therefore to glean clarification on the first decisions of Donald Trump.
-All aim to sit on his authority: facing the judges, facing the congress, facing the powerful American states, in front of the rest of the world.
“Not a king”
He questioned in a decree the law of the soil, guaranteed by the Constitution, immediately triggering a salvo of legal action.
“The president has power, but is not a king,” insurged Matthew J. Platkin, a New Jersey prosecutor quoted by the New York Times.
Donald Trump also threatened to suppress aid paid to California, a Democrat Bastion, to fight against Los Angeles fires.
He ignored the reluctance of certain conservative elected officials to grant his mercy to some 1,600 Capitol attackers on January 6, 2021, including the most violent.
He brought to the Senate the appointment of his Minister of Defense, Pete Hegseth, despite the reluctance of Republican Tenors.
And he sent large bosses together in Davos a clear message: produce in America or prepare to pay customs duties.
His first mandate had left an impression of permanent improvisation.
This time, his team takes charge of the state apparatus relentlessly and meticulously.
A democratic senator, Elizabeth Warren, denounced a “purge” by learning in the press the referral of many general inspectors, independent officials responsible for fighting corruption within the administration.
At the top
Disappropriate notes of this type, there hasn’t been many since Monday, or rather they were stifled in the incessant crash of declarations and announcements.
A voice resounded, however, that of the episcopalian bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde.
During a religious service to which Donald Trump attended on Tuesday, she urged him to show “mercy” for migrants and transgender children.
The Republican agreed with anger, speaking of a “pseudo-bishop” which would be a “left extremist”.
