First Business Hours – These signatures change our world

The “inauguration celebrations” were expected to last until late in the evening. Numerous balls, receptions and parties were planned for Trump supporters in Washington, some of whom had flocked to the capital days ago from all parts of the country.

The highlight was a parade for thousands of supporters at the Capitol One Arena in downtown Washington, where Trump also signed the first executive orders. These essentially allow him to take initial action through swift official channels, bypassing Congress. It was initially unclear how many of the executive orders could actually be put into practice.

Signature show for cheering fans
A desk was set up for 20,000 MAGA fans in the Washington sports arena. On it: various documents and fountain pens. He signed numerous decrees aimed, among other things, at drastically limiting immigration and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement and the WHO. Trump also pardoned people involved in the storming of the Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.

However, migrants waiting at the border in Mexico to enter the US immediately felt the impact. Appointments that you had already received to apply for asylum have been canceled at short notice. The people at the scene burst into tears.

New direction in trade policy
On trade policy, Trump plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico. “I think we’ll do it on February 1,” Trump said at the White House. When Trump was asked by a journalist about the tariffs, he said: “We’re thinking about 25 percent for Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing in a large number of people (…).”

To combat irregular migration, Trump has declared a national emergency at the southern border. The Secretary of Defense now has the authority to deploy soldiers to respond to this emergency and support the Department of Homeland Security. The stated goal is that no more illegal migrants are allowed to cross the southern border into the US.

The 78-year-old also ordered an expansion of border fortifications with Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security has been instructed to take all appropriate measures to deport migrants without legal residency. Unregistered migrants must be identified.

U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants have been stripped of their right to automatic citizenship. Trump wants to end this right to citizenship by birth in the US for children of parents who are legally, but only temporarily, in the US. The issue of the legality of the decree will ultimately have to be clarified by the judiciary.

To strengthen the economy, Trump wants to reduce inflation, including by expanding oil and gas production to lower costs for consumers and industry. The 78-year-old declared a national energy emergency. This is intended to simplify the use of natural resources such as oil, gas, but also uranium, coal and critical raw materials and to speed up approval processes, for example for the construction of pipelines.

In addition, numerous trade agreements (China, Mexico and Canada) have been released for review. In the case of Canada and Mexico, Trump announced that he would impose tariffs of 25 percent on products from these countries starting February 1. He also wants to take action against the high fees for American ships in the Panama Canal. “We’re bringing him back,” Trump said. He had not even ruled out military action to take control of the canal.

To satisfy his supporters, Trump pardoned all supporters convicted of the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The criminal proceedings still ongoing in the case must be dropped.

As of a few hours ago, there are only two genders in the US, at least if Trump has his way. Namely male and female. In doing so he extremely restricts the rights of transgender people. In the future, official documents such as passports and visas will once again have to state the ‘correct biological sex’.

North America’s highest mountain will again be called Mount McKinley and the change to Mount Denali will be reversed by his predecessor Barack Obama. Video app Tiktok gets a reprieve to reorganize its ownership structure. Trump’s plan is for the US to get a 50 percent share of the app. The Chinese app is immensely popular among Trump supporters.

Of course, Elon Musk should not be missed either! The commission was created by executive order to cut U.S. government spending. Trump told reporters at the White House that Musk would have an office for about 20 employees. As expected, the body will be called the “Department of Government Efficiency” – the abbreviation “DOGE” corresponds to the name of a fun digital currency popularized by Musk.

In recent months, Musk has promised drastic cuts to the state apparatus. What his specific status will be remains to be seen: as an active company, he cannot simply be in government service. He was expected to make suggestions.