Immigration
Trump vowed to put an end to illegal immigration during his inaugural address, promising to halt all unlawful entry and deport those he referred to as “criminal aliens.”
He wasted no time in declaring the situation at the southern border a national emergency.
Ending Birthright Citizenship
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that anyone born in the United States is automatically a citizen. Trump wants to change this so that children born in the U.S. would only be granted citizenship if at least one parent is a lawful permanent resident.
This proposal is likely to face significant legal hurdles.
The ‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’
Trump has resurrected his controversial idea to negotiate with Denmark over the purchase of Greenland, citing its importance to U.S. national security.
However, Denmark has insisted that Greenland’s future is for Greenland to decide, and Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has reiterated that the island is not for sale.
January 6 Pardons
Following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, many participants faced severe legal consequences. Trump, however, has pardoned 1,500 of them.
In an interview with TIME before his inauguration, Trump said: “I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably they got out of control.”
Pausing the TikTok Ban
The much-dreaded TikTok ban was short-lived, lasting just a few hours before the app returned with a message to users: “Welcome back! Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US!”
Trump has given TikTok a 90-day extension to find a U.S.-based buyer.
Declassifying Government Files
In a move that has sparked backlash from security officials, Trump has pledged to release classified government documents.
At a rally in Washington, D.C., he announced: “We are going to make public remaining records relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” He said this step would help restore “transparency and accountability to government.”
Electric Vehicles
Trump is looking to reverse Biden’s executive order that aimed for 50% of vehicles on U.S. roads to be electric by 2030, arguing that the mandate wasn’t legally binding. He commented that scrapping this rule is “common sense,” adding that Americans should have the freedom to “buy the car of your choice.”
Green Cards for College Graduates
Trump plans to allow non-U.S. citizens to stay in the country after graduating from college.
Speaking on the ‘All In’ podcast earlier this year, he said: “Somebody graduates at the top of the class, they can’t even make a deal with the company because they don’t think they’re going to be able to stay in the country. That is going to end on Day 1.”
