At 78 years old, Donald Trump stormed back into Washington on Monday, seizing the reins of power with his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
As the world watched, one question dominated: how quickly can “Turbo-Trump” deliver on his promises?
With 200 executive orders prepared for his signature, the answer was clear—he wasn’t wasting any time.
Executive Order Frenzy
Trump kicked off his presidency in dramatic fashion. Following the traditional parade in his honor at the Capital One Arena, he sat at a desk surrounded by stacks of documents and pens. One by one, he signed orders that, as he put it, “will change the world.”
In a theatrical move, Trump tossed the pens he used to sign the documents into the crowd, further cementing the spectacle of his first day in office.
Reversing Biden’s Legacy
After the arena celebration, Trump returned to his office, where the live-streamed signing frenzy continued. His first major moves were aimed at dismantling policies from the Biden administration. In total, 78 executive actions were reversed, including reinstating Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and lifting Biden’s 2023 ban on oil drilling across nearly 65,000 square kilometers in Alaska.
One of Trump’s most controversial acts was pardoning approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2023, Capitol riot. Additionally, he announced plans for the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Accord.
Office Policies and Border Measures
Trump also issued a sweeping mandate requiring federal employees to return to full-time, in-office work. He proposed eliminating birthright citizenship and gave TikTok’s parent company 75 days to divest its U.S. operations. Meanwhile, at the Mexican border, he declared a national emergency and reinstated a policy defining gender strictly as male or female.
Unveiling Biden’s Letter
In a symbolic moment, Trump discovered a letter left for him by his predecessor, Joe Biden. Reading it on camera, he remarked that he would review it privately, adding an air of intrigue to the day’s events.
Ukraine, Putin, and Gaza
During his Oval Office signing marathon, Trump turned the session into an impromptu press conference. He addressed the war in Ukraine, criticizing Vladimir Putin: “I think he’s destroying Russia by refusing to negotiate.” On Gaza, Trump commented on reconstruction efforts, stating, “Great weather. It’s nice. Wonderful things can be done there.”
Trump’s whirlwind first day set the tone for what promises to be a presidency as unpredictable and headline-grabbing as his last.
