 "One month of Trump 2.0: A flood of executive orders, mass firings and a new world order")
As US President Donald Trump’s presidency completes one month, he has taken both swift and controversial actions, drawing attention both internationally and domestically.
Trump took office in the White House on 20 January for his non-consecutive second term. In his inaugural address, President Trump said, “From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign, and independent nation.” He further stated, “We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans.”
The Trump administration announced plans to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organisation just after the inauguration.
Flood of executive orders
He signed numerous executive orders to tighten immigration rules, stir cultural debates, and halt federal and foreign funding, disrupting programmes and US agencies globally.
From imposing tariffs to protect US interests to controversial calls for merging Greenland with the United States, he has faced significant backlash for his actions.
The Tariff war
Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10 per cent tariff on imports from China. Later, the administration reinstated a 25 per cent tariff on all steel imports and increased tariffs on aluminium imports from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. President Trump also announced plans to introduce a 25 per cent tariff on imports of automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductor chips.
Musk’s appointment as Doge chief
Another move that gained attention was the appointment of billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE is intended to identify and eliminate wasteful spending.
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As part of its mission, DOGE has led to mass firings, access to personal data, bulk buyouts, and the near-complete shutdown of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The US government has conducted mass firings across various federal agencies. Thousands of federal employees have been dismissed, with major agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Department, Energy Department, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) among those affected. The Department of Health and Human Services has also seen significant layoffs.
His administration has also faced legal challenges, with several courts pausing some of his actions and questioning their legality.
On the international front
Just a day before he took office, a Gaza ceasefire came into force between Israel and Palestinian armed groups. The ceasefire brought a temporary halt to hostilities in the Gaza Strip and has facilitated several exchanges of hostages and prisoners between the two parties.
Recently, high-level discussions between the United States and Russia took place in Riyadh to mediate peace in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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