Donald Trump pardons 1,600 Capitol rioters within hours of taking office
Donald Trump has pardoned nearly 1,600 rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan 6 2021 within hours of taking office as part of a flurry of executive orders.
The pardoning will see the release of a number of violent offenders, including 14 members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups, some of whom were convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the US government.
‘These are the hostages,’ said Trump as he signed a series of executive orders from the Oval Office.
‘We hope they come out tonight, frankly. ‘These people have been destroyed. What they’ve done to these people is outrageous. There’s rarely been anything like that in the history of our country.’
Some of the other 200+ executive orders signed by Trump include the US’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organisation, repealing a ban on drilling for oil in the Arctic and deploying the military to the Mexican border after declaring a national emergency there.
During his inaugural address, Trump declared that a new ‘golden age of America’ had begun, and vowed to make the US ‘greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.’
Earlier in the night, the 47th president’s government efficiency head Elon Musk made what appeared to be a Nazi salute several times.
Musk raised his arm and gestured sharply to the right during Trump’s inaugural parade, drawing comparisons on the Internet to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
‘I just want to say thank you, thank you for making it happen,’ said Musk to a crowd of about 20,000 Trump supporters at the Capital One Arena. ‘My heart goes out to you.’
Musk put his hand to his heart just before making the salute.
Trump appointed Musk to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, but the White House hours after Trump was sworn in announced that Ramaswamy will not serve in the role.
Musk spent more than $200million to help Trump win the November election, and has since been a constant presence at his side and his Mar-a-Lago estate. Critics have voiced concerns over the influence that Musk could have on Trump and his administration.
Trump was sworn in in the Capitol Rotunda and returned to office after four years.
Referencing his attempted assassination this summer, Trump said: ‘I was saved by God to make America great again.’