TikTok, border security & JFK truth – the FIRST things on Trump’s to-do list to change face of America ‘before sunset’
DONALD Trump has vowed to push through hundreds of executive orders during his first day as President, mapping out a new America “before the sun goes down”.
Eight years on from his first punt at power, the MAGA man’s first priority will be to funnel his restored popularity into sweeping policy changes.
Vowing last night to “fix every single crisis facing our country”, Trump promised to repeal “every radical, foolish” order installed by Biden within “hours” of his inauguration.
Soon after the ceremony Trump will set up shop in the Oval Office and sign hundreds of presidential directives – which carry heavy legal weight although they can be overturned by the courts.
They are expected to push his strict stance border security, unseal secret documents on the assassination of John F Kennedy and help shore up the future of TikTok in the US.
His orders are also expected to try and cut federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and touch on contentious gender and climate issues.
Trump told fans last night: “We must set our country on the right course.
“By the time the sun sets on Monday evening, the invasion across our borders will have stopped.”
We must set our country on the right course. By the time the sun sets on Monday evening, the invasion across our borders will have stopped
Donald Trump
DEPORTATION & BORDER ISSUES
Immigration has long been a top issue for voters and Republicans alike.
At one of Trump’s final rallies in 2024, he promised: “On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out.
“I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible”.
He may even declare a state of “national emergency” to enlist the US military in deporting illegal immigrants.
Trump has also promised to close the southern border between the US and Mexico on his first day, saying in 2023: “We’re going to close the border. Day 1, the border gets closed.”
One of his expected policies on immigration could end birthright citizenship – where those born on US soil are automatically American citizens.
He may reinstate his “Remain in Mexico” policy which saw some 70,000 non-Mexican asylum seekers sent across the southern US border to await their hearings.
Trump may also try to finish building a border wall between Mexico and the US, a plan he first put into action back in 2016.
JFK ASSASSINATION
Trump last night promised to uncover a slew of classified documents on the assassination of President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy as well as Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King.
During his first term Trump did release some documents related to the fatal shooting of Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, 1963.
King and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated in 1968.
“In the coming days, we are going to make public remaining records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other topics of great public interest,” he said on Sunday.
Trump has not specified what kind of documents he hopes to release, but the JFK assassination in particular has been a long-term source of debate in the US.
A widespread conspiracy theory has suggested the involvement of the federal government or CIA in orchestrating and covering up his death.
TIKTOK BAN
Trump has hit repeatedly hit out at the plans to ban TikTok in the US – a wildly popular social media app with some 170 million American users.
After national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership, the app was briefly shut down on Sunday across the country.
But mere hours after Trump promised to reinstate it after taking office, American users were able to get back online.
The app “welcomed back” American users yesterday, lauding Trump as the reason for its return even before his official return to the Oval Office.
It is not clear exactly how Trump was involved in the reestablishing of its operations in the US.
He said on Saturday: “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has been walking a legal tightrope since a law passed last year requiring the app to sever ties with its parent company or shut down operations in the U.S.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated Saturday that it’s up to the incoming Trump administration to act.
GENDER DEBATE
Trump has previously vowed to reinstate a ban on transgender military service – something he brought in during his first term which Biden later axed.
He said at a rally in December: “With the stroke of my pen, on day one, we’re going to stop the transgender lunacy”.
He is also expected to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, saying: “And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high school.
“And we will keep men out of women’s sports. And that will likewise be done on Day 1.”
CRYPTOCURRENCY & AI
Trump’s friendship with tech tycoon Elon Musk has grown alongside his efforts to champion cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
Some expect him to create a federal “Bitcoin stockpile” – similar to the US’ gold and oil reserves – which he has claimed would be a “permanent national asset to benefit all Americans”.
He himself launched a new cryptocurrency, $Trump, last week, as did his wife Melania.
He’s previously promised to scrap Biden’s executive order imposing restrictions on the use of Artificial Intelligence.
CLIMATE CRUNCH
Trump has also promised to look at cost of living efforts and visit Los Angeles in the wake of recent devastating wildfires.
And he is expected to overturn President Biden’s climate policies – including on the regulation of pollution or green job efforts.
It could also stretch to a ban on new wind projects or electric vehicle mandates.
And he is expected to once again pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which he did in 2017, before Biden rejoined in 2021.
Presidents also have the power to pardon criminals – with Trump saying he is “inclined to pardon many” of those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.