President Trump Follows Through on Key Promises in First Day Back in Office

On January 20th, President Donald Trump hit the ground running, signing 46 executive orders and presidential actions aimed at fulfilling several promises he made during his presidential campaign. From border security to energy production, transgender rights, and even granting pardons to January 6th rioters, Trump took swift action to reshape U.S. policy on his first day back in the White House.
However, as much as he tackled a range of issues, some key promises — including tariffs on Mexico and Canada and his vow to end the war in Ukraine — are still very much on the table, with decisions expected in the coming days.
Key Actions Taken on Day One:
1. Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
Trump wasted no time addressing his core issue: immigration reform. Among the most notable executive orders:

“Protecting the American People Against Invasion”: This order prioritizes the prosecution of criminal offenses related to unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens.
Trump also signed an order to set up detention facilities to house individuals who are deported, as part of his aggressive stance on deportations.

2. Pardon for January 6th Rioters
In a highly anticipated move, Trump followed through on his promise to pardon individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. In total, he granted pardons to approximately 1,500 defendants and commuted their sentences. Trump has previously suggested that he would consider pardons even for those convicted of assaulting police officers, signaling his firm stance on offering clemency to the rioters.
3. Birthright Citizenship
Trump signed an executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship for children born to non-legal residents. While his action is certain to face legal challenges, it signals his continued commitment to curbing illegal immigration and revisiting controversial aspects of the U.S. immigration system.
4. Rollback of Biden’s Border Policies
Trump took significant steps to reverse Biden-era immigration policies by:

Revoking four major Biden executive orders related to asylum and immigration enforcement.
Creating new task forces under Homeland Security to better manage border control efforts.
Expanding efforts to build the border wall and push for more stringent border security measures.

5. Environmental and Energy Overhaul
True to his campaign promise, Trump has targeted the Biden administration’s green energy push with a set of actions aimed at deregulating fossil fuel production:

“Drill, Drill, Drill”: Trump signed an order to prioritize drilling and fracking efforts in Alaska, including measures to deregulate fracking and promote oil exports.
He also moved to cancel the electric vehicle mandate by halting policies that favor electric vehicles and pausing funding for related infrastructure projects. Trump’s focus remains on maximizing domestic energy production, including oil and natural gas.

6. National Emergency on the Border
Trump declared a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, which allows him to deploy additional resources to address border security and immigration issues. The move is in line with his broader “America First” stance on immigration and national security.
Items Still Pending:
1. Tariffs on Mexico and Canada
While Trump had pledged to impose 25% tariffs on products imported from Mexico and Canada starting on his first day in office, he refrained from taking this immediate action. When questioned about it, Trump suggested the tariffs could be enacted on February 1st, signaling that a decision may come soon. This is a key part of his trade policy that could have broad implications for the U.S. economy and international relations with two of its biggest trading partners.
2. End the War in Ukraine
One of Trump’s more ambitious claims was that he could end the ongoing war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. However, on his first day, he did not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or take concrete steps toward this promise. When asked about the war in Ukraine, Trump downplayed the timeline, suggesting his focus was on making diplomatic efforts soon, but there was no immediate action to resolve the crisis.
3. Auto Industry Changes
While Trump made bold claims on the campaign trail about making the U.S. auto industry “fuelled by American energy” and sourcing products from American suppliers, there were no significant executive orders on this matter on his first day in office. However, his administration’s focus on energy production could indirectly impact the auto industry by creating incentives for domestic manufacturing.
4. Largest Deportation Program in History
Trump also promised to initiate the largest deportation program in U.S. history, but this is a longer-term initiative, and no immediate steps have been taken to implement this sweeping action yet. While several orders were signed related to detaining and deporting individuals who are in the U.S. illegally, the full scope of this program remains to be seen.
As the next few days unfold, the world will be watching closely to see how Trump handles these remaining challenges. Will he follow through on his tariff promises and bring his brand of economic nationalism back to the forefront? Will he engage in critical diplomatic talks to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine? Only time will tell.