New Delhi/Washington:
Donald Trump was sworn in Monday for a historic second term as US president, capping his extraordinary return. In his first speech after the oath, he mentioned a series of immediate orders on immigration, gender identity, immigration, climate and energy policies, among others. These executive orders are mainly aimed at fulfilling his election promises.
“I will declare a national emergency at our southern border” with Mexico, Trump said to loud cheers from supporters in the ornate Rotunda Hall, vowing to deport “millions and millions” of illegal immigrants.
Earlier, an incoming White House told reporters: “We're going to declare a national emergency at the border,” the official said. “The Executive Order directs the military to prioritize our borders and territorial integrity.”
He also said he will declare a national energy emergency aimed at boosting U.S. oil and gas production and lowering costs for U.S. consumers.
“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency,” Trump said at the US Capitol. “We'll drill, baby, drill.”
The US president said his administration's official policy would recognize only two genders. “I will also end the government policy of attempting to socially integrate race and gender into every aspect of public and private life… Starting today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders. male and female.”
Trump's executive orders will also focus on diversity programs and take swift action to deliver on divisive campaign promises to dismantle the “woke” culture.
“The Treasury Department – this was a while ago – included diversity training saying that all white people, no matter how woke they are, contribute to racism. So we end up with this kind of funding in these (diversity) programs. We are going to put an end to that,” the official added.
During his campaign, Trump criticized diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and in the business world, saying they discriminated against white people — especially men.
One of the decisions aims to end the birthright rights of U.S.-born children whose parents do not have legal immigration status. “The federal government will not recognize the automatic birthright rights of children of illegal aliens born in the United States,” the official said.
Citing the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the official said, “We will also enhance vetting and screening of illegal aliens.”
An executive order is an order issued unilaterally by the president and has the force of law. Unlike legislation, executive orders do not require congressional approval. While Congress cannot overturn them, they can be challenged in court.
According to Stephen Miller, a close aide to Trump, the orders will center around these five points: sealing the southern border, mass deportation, preventing transgender women's sports, lifting restrictions on energy exploration and improving the efficiency of government. Among his executive orders, he is expected to pardon his supporters arrested by law enforcement for their role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol four years ago.
The 78-year-old is also expected to reverse some of outgoing President Joe Biden's orders and actions. Prominent among these is the Paris Climate Agreement, which lifts restrictions on fossil fuel production and expands domestic oil drilling.
Trump has made history by replacing Biden as the oldest president to be sworn in. He is also only the second president in US history to return to power after being voted out, after Grover Cleveland in 1893.