Donald Trump, inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025, is already making bold moves in his second term, including executive orders on the death penalty, gender policies, free speech, and immigration.
One of his first actions was to lift the moratorium on federal executions that was imposed by his predecessor, President Joe Biden. Trump criticized Biden’s commutation of sentences for federal death row inmates and emphasized the importance of capital punishment as a deterrent against heinous crimes. His order also instructed the Attorney General to ensure sufficient lethal injection drugs for executions.
In addition, Trump signed an order affirming only two genders, instructing federal agencies to enforce laws based on this definition and ending “wasteful” government programs promoting diversity. He also sought to protect free speech, accusing the previous administration of suppressing it, and vowed to stop censorship of Americans’ protected speech.
Trump continued to undo Biden-era policies, particularly on immigration. He declared illegal immigration a national emergency, aiming to halt all illegal entry and begin deporting criminal aliens. He also sought to restrict refugee intake and prevent children of undocumented immigrants from gaining citizenship.
Other significant actions included withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization, asserting that the country would no longer be exploited by global organizations. He paused the US ban on TikTok, issued pardons for 1,500 individuals, and reversed Biden’s ban on drilling in Alaska.
Trump also vowed to stimulate American energy production, promising to lift regulations that had hindered job creation and raise energy independence. He proposed a federal hiring freeze, classified drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and sought to reduce the size of the federal government by classifying federal employees as political hires.
In a symbolic move, Trump ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the “Gulf of America,” signaling his continued focus on American exceptionalism and national pride.
