Trump’s First Day: Executive Orders, Immigration, and Jan. 6 Pardons

President Trump begins his first full day in office, signing executive orders and addressing immigration policies.

January 21, 2025

Welcome to your morning briefing from Up First. Subscribe to receive it directly in your inbox, and make sure to tune in to the Up First podcast for your daily news roundup.

Leading News of the Day

President Trump begins his first full day in office with immediate actions. As the 47th president of the United States, Trump has started reversing initiatives from the Biden era. For a detailed list of the executive orders signed or hinted at on his inaugural day, read on.

Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images

AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump signs executive orders during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena, in Washington, DC on Monday.

🎧 Trump embarks on a significant transformation of the federal workforce, according to NPR’s Franco Ordoñez on Up First. He issued a directive to reclassify numerous federal employees to facilitate their dismissal and replacement, anticipating legal scrutiny. Trump has also revoked nearly 80 Biden-era executive actions spanning climate policies, energy directives, and diversity initiatives. Some of Trump’s proposed policies are projected to encounter legal obstacles, but his team is prepared to creatively use existing laws to implement his agenda, Ordoñez notes.

➡️ Trump envisions a “golden age” for America in his inaugural speech. For a recap of the address, check out these four key takeaways.

➡️ Explore visual highlights from the crowds gathered in D.C. for the inauguration and the inaugural balls attended by Trump.

Immigration takes center stage in Trump’s initial actions. A cornerstone of his campaign, Trump targets immigration policy changes, undoing certain Biden-era asylum and border practices. Some of these decisions appear to stretch legal and constitutional boundaries.

🎧 Trump enacts measures reflecting his ambitious promises, including a controversial reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment affecting birthright citizenship, NPR’s Ximena Bustillo reports. His actions also revive border wall construction and halt refugee resettlements. Additionally, Trump has discontinued the CBP One app for migrant appointments at entry ports.

➡️ The Senate advances the Laken Riley Act, requiring detention of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes. This bill is anticipated to be Trump’s first legislative success this term.

Trump grants pardons related to January 6, 2021, Capitol riot cases. He announced the full pardoning of 1,500 individuals and commutation of six sentences, including those convicted of attacking police officers. The incident left over 140 officers injured with severe injuries.

🎧 “The headline here is everyone charged in connection with Jan. 6, whether they pleaded guilty or lost at trial, whether they assaulted cops or not, whether they were found to be violent extremists or not, they are all getting relief from Trump,” NPR’s Tom Dreisbach says. This move reverses the largest single criminal investigation by the Justice Department. Experts express concern about this signaling an endorsement of political violence against opponents.

In-Depth Coverage

Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist and host of the War Room podcast, poses for a portrait inside his basement podcast studio in Washington, DC on January 17, 2025. Books and art fill the space - with many pieces of art depicting Bannon and political allies.

Photo credit: Maansi Srivastava for NPR — Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist and host of the War Room podcast, in his Washington, DC studio on January 17, 2025. The studio is adorned with books and art featuring Bannon and political allies.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist and WarRoom podcast host, is a staunch advocate of Trump’s return. However, he questions the influence of tech billionaires in the current administration. Bannon claims he is part of a populist movement, despite the presence of affluent figures like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk at the inauguration. In conversation with Morning Edition‘s Steve Inskeep, Bannon delved into topics from big tech’s role to immigration policies. Listen to the full discussion.

Consumer and Health Updates

The Center for Science in the Public Interest wants warning labels on food products containing six synthetic dyes. — The Center for Science in the Public Interest, which brought the petition to ban red dye No. 3, wants the FDA to require warning labels on food products containing other synthetic dyes.

The FDA recently announced a ban on food dye Red No. 3, citing its carcinogenic potential. Studies indicate Red No. 3 can induce cancer in rats at high dosage levels. There’s also evidence linking synthetic dyes to adverse behavioral and mental effects in children. Consider these tips for navigating food choices:

🍬 Identify bright cherry-red foods as potential Red No. 3 carriers by checking ingredient labels.

🍬 Over 3,000 consumer items are reported to contain Red No. 3, including fruit cocktails, flavored milk, cake mixes, and candy, as per the Environmental Working Group.

🍬 Manufacturers have until January 2027 to phase out Red No. 3. There are concerns about potential substitution with Red No. 40, linked to behavioral issues.

Quick Updates

Virginia Squier (left) and her daughter, Chambers.

Over two decades ago, Virginia Squier’s daughter boarded a train alone in England. A stranger’s intervention helped reunite them, teaching Squier valuable lessons in acceptance.

Cecile Richards, a women’s rights advocate and ex-Planned Parenthood leader, passed away yesterday. Her battle with cancer was detailed in a January 2024 Instagram post.

Texas legislators aim to enforce the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has identified it as a top conservative agenda.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

—
Read More Michigan News