According to the US magazine Axios, a flood of up to 100 decrees is planned, with which Trump wants to create facts from day one – primarily in immigration policy. Particularly noteworthy are his plans to abolish the birthright to citizenship, to resume the construction of the border wall and to organize mass deportations.
100 days, 100 decrees: the radical restructuring of the USA has begun
by Harald Neuber
[This article posted on 1/21/2025 is translated from the German on the Internet, https://www.telepolis.de/features/100-Tage-100-Erlasse-Der-radikalen-Umbau-der-USA-hat-begonnen-10235218.html.]
Republicans create facts. Massive changes affect migration, energy and trade. And that’s just the beginning.
On his first day in office, Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, signed a veritable avalanche of decrees. Within hours, the Republican had used 78 decrees to reverse various decisions made by his predecessor Joe Biden and to set out the new political line.
Trump’s motto: “America First”.
As Telepolis reported in an exclusive today, this applies primarily to energy policy. The German ambassador in Washington, Andreas Michaelis, has warned against an energy policy offensive.
The US is trying to achieve “energy dominance” under Donald Trump and replace Russian natural gas exports with its own products. Joe Biden’s sanctions and the LNG terminals built in Germany under Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) are also contributing to this.
State of emergency at the border and immigration stop
Trump declared a state of emergency at the border with Mexico by decree and ordered the army to monitor the situation. According to Trump, all illegal entries are to be stopped and millions of people without residence permits are to be deported. As a first measure, he ordered the cancellation of all appointments to apply for asylum via the CBP One app.
WHO and Paris Climate Agreement terminated
The US president ordered the USA to leave the World Health Organization (WHO) again, which he accused of being a “rip-off”. Trump also signed a letter of termination for the Paris climate agreement, which will take effect within a year. In his view, the agreement leads to competitive disadvantages.
Cuba reclassified as a “terrorist state”
In foreign policy, Trump is opting for confrontation. He reversed the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, which Biden had only ended a week earlier. He also lifted sanctions against radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Thousands pardoned and dismissed
Around 1,500 Trump supporters are under investigation for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump pardoned them all en masse. In contrast, he ordered the dismissal of more than 1,000 Biden-appointed government employees, including Chief of Staff Mark Milley.
Energy emergency and commitment to the death penalty
The Republican has declared an energy emergency in order to expand domestic energy production. He has also instructed the judicial authorities to ensure that sufficient funds are available to carry out death sentences.
Import duties announced
During the election campaign, Trump had already brought new duties on imports into play. He said that he was planning to impose surcharges on goods from Canada and Mexico from February 1. Both countries had allowed too many migrants into the US and had not done enough to combat drug smuggling.
Massive restructuring in the first 100 days
Donald Trump’s security adviser Mike Waltz recently reaffirmed the new government’s claims to Greenland. He said that Greenland was crucial to US national security. In an interview with Fox News, he explained the new US president’s ambitions to take control of the Arctic island.
“Russia is trying to become the king of the Arctic, with over 60 icebreakers, some of them nuclear-powered,” Waltz warned. ”We only have two, and one of them just caught fire.”
Greenland: It’s about raw materials
For the Republicans, Greenland is about important minerals, natural resources, oil and gas, and its strategic location. China is also entering the region with more and more icebreakers, according to Waltz.
Trump’s plans for Greenland are not new: During his first term in office, he had already suggested to Denmark that the island be sold to the United States – a suggestion that the Danish government firmly rejected.
Greenland’s head of government, Múte Egede, reiterated that the island is not for sale. Nevertheless, he also recognizes the changing security situation in the Arctic. He said that Greenland looks forward to working with the new US administration and NATO allies to ensure security and stability in the region.
Trump had already announced his inauguration decrees
The first concrete steps of the Republican after taking office had been announced days ago. At a meeting with Republican senators, the new president had outlined an ambitious program for the first 100 days in the White House. According to the US magazine Axios, a flood of up to 100 decrees is planned, with which Trump wants to create facts from day one – primarily in immigration policy.
Particularly noteworthy are his plans to abolish the birthright to citizenship, to resume the construction of the border wall and to organize mass deportations.
Trump also wants to reverse the climate policy of the Biden era. He promises to lower energy prices and limit support for electric vehicles. In sports, he wants to ban diversity initiatives and the participation of transgender people in women’s sports.
Trump’s ambitious plans could face significant legal and legislative hurdles. Nevertheless, US media recognize his determination to implement these changes quickly, his commitment to keeping his campaign promises and setting a reform agenda for his second term.
Migration expert explains Trump’s plans
Stephen Miller, Trump’s long-time immigration adviser, explained to senators how the new administration plans to use its executive power at the border and on immigration. A central plan: the reintroduction of “Title 42.” This pandemic-era regulation allows for the rapid deportation of migrants at the border and denies them the opportunity to apply for asylum. Under President Biden, the controversial practice was ended in mid-2023.
According to Miller, other measures planned include the increased use of Section 287(g) of the Immigration Act, which allows federal and state authorities to work with the police to enforce immigration regulations. The construction of a border wall with Mexico, the establishment of temporary migrant detention centers and further restrictions on asylum are also on the agenda.
Republicans discuss legislative strategy with Trump
To push their ambitious legislative proposals through Congress, the Republicans will need support from the White House. At a meeting in Washington on Wednesday evening, Republican senators tried to persuade the future president to divide his “big, beautiful law”, as it was referred to in those ranks, into two separate packages. So far, Trump has tended to bundle all priorities into one mega-law, but according to media reports, he has also shown himself to be open to a two-step approach.
Many measures, implementation unclear
This approach would first introduce a law on border and deportation rules and then put together a separate tax package. Many Republicans fear that the attempt to include everything in one law would be doomed to failure. In the House of Representatives, where the Republicans have only a wafer-thin majority, the new speaker of this chamber, Kevin McCarthy, faces considerable challenges.
The important thing is that everything passes.
Trump’s confidants in the Senate, Markwayne Mullin and Tommy Tuberville, do not want to commit themselves until the last minute. “If we can get both in one package, great. If we have to split it up, that’s fine too,” said Mullin. For the president, it is crucial that the laws are passed. Tuberville also emphasized that ultimately it would depend on what was feasible in the House of Representatives. “I think it could still go either way.”
This article first appeared in an earlier version on January 10, 2025. It was updated and supplemented after Donald Trump took office.