Trump Returns to the White House
Trump promised many things during his campaign, but what did he actually do?
It has been two months since President Donald J. Trump made history as the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms, and he has not failed to stir debate. The president, who promised many things during the campaign, proceeded to sign 26 executive orders on his first day in office. The number is a huge jump from the one executive order he signed on his first Inauguration Day in 2017. So, what were they?
One of the highlights of the President’s actions was to, once again, withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. The Paris Climate Agreement is a legally binding treaty between world leaders of 196 countries to attempt to combat climate change.
“[The Paris Agreement’s] overarching goal is to hold ‘the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts ‘to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’,” the United Nations stated on the treaty’s official website.
President Trump made the argument that the United States’ participation in the global agreement was a waste of taxpayer dollars. World leaders and experts have expressed sadness regarding the decision. However, they also took the step to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Accord, despite the US departure. Domestically, about half of Americans “somewhat” or “strongly” opposed the withdrawal, according to the Associated Press.
Equally important was the President’s executive order to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO). He attributed the decision to WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and strenuous demand for the US’s financial contribution, among other reasons. The international agency, which includes 194 countries, commits itself to tackling public health concerns and chronic conditions. At the same time, WHO frequently provides assistance to underprivileged regions. The United States’ withdrawal threatens to shake the agency terribly, considering the country’s position as the largest donor.
“If we think it’s expensive to be part of the WHO, just wait until we aren’t part of the WHO,” Judd Walson, Robert E. Black Chair in International Health, shared with John Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health in an interview. “That’s where we’re going to see the true costs.”
In addition, January 19 represented the start of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids all across the country. Speculations of immigration raids targeting undocumented immigrants in Chicago were widespread even the day before, followed by similar news from other cities and towns. The administration claimed to only target criminals, but the statement came under suspicion. Trump now allows raids to be conducted at schools or religious locations such as churches. This has never happened before, and sure enough, criticism was almost immediate.
“What happens if students see their classmates plucked out of a classroom? So how do you explain these things to them?” co-founder and director of the National Newcomer Network Alejandra Vázquez Baur asked in an interview with The Guardian.
Amongst all the important changes, the president was also eager to announce identity changes of two famous natural landmarks. Naming the executive order “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness”, Trump reasoned the changes as promoting American heritage and honoring the nation’s rich past. Particularly, the Gulf of Mexico now bears the name Gulf of America, while Mount Denali’s name was changed back to Mount McKinley. The former change put the United States in a confrontational position with one of our closest allies: Mexico.
“Why don’t we call it America Mexicana. It sounds pretty, no? Isn’t that true?” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said while pointing at the territory that spans across all three North American countries. Furthermore, President Trump simultaneously managed to disrespect Native Alaskans, as the name Denali carries significance to the native people of Alaska, which Trump dismissed.
Against public outrage, the president also called for an end to birthright citizenship and scrapped away the identities of millions of Americans by condemning “gender ideology”. He emphasized identification by sex at conception. What Trump and his team might not know is that scientifically, sexual organs are not developed until 6-7 weeks post-conception. As a result, the new executive order made everyone… a woman.
“Donald Trump is a stunning and brave woman now,” according to conversations on Reddit sparked by a user, which received a response from another user “has to be, to have made it as the first female POTUS”.
Among all other things, his actions were fortunately challenged by federal judges across the country. A federal appeals court in New Hampshire recently blocked Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. They are the third court to do so.
Similar responses have signaled hope and resistance against an administration creeping to destroy the Constitution.