“Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 Defendants After Taking Office!”
Donald Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, taking swift and controversial action just hours after reclaiming the presidency on Monday. Following his inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda a site once overrun by his supporters Trump moved quickly to implement a series of executive orders. These included curbing immigration, reversing environmental regulations, and rolling back diversity initiatives.
Although Trump did not immediately impose his promised 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, he signaled potential action by February 1, causing the Mexican peso to drop 1% against the dollar and the Canadian dollar to hit a five-year low. The announcement also disrupted global markets, sending the U.S. dollar surging amid volatile trading.
The pardons, which included 14 leaders of the far-right Oath Keepers and Proud Boys groups serving long sentences, left their convictions intact but allowed their early release. This move is expected to anger law enforcement, lawmakers, and others whose lives were threatened during the unprecedented Capitol riot, which left four dead and 140 police officers assaulted. Officers were subjected to chemical irritants, beatings, and other violence as chaos unfolded.
At his inauguration, Trump, 78, framed himself as a divinely chosen savior returning to rescue a troubled nation. His presidency marks a remarkable comeback for the polarizing figure, who overcame a criminal conviction, multiple prosecutions, and even two assassination attempts to regain the White House.
Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency with a dramatic and controversial return to power, marked by sweeping executive actions and bold rhetoric. After being sworn in as the oldest president in U.S. history, Trump wasted no time in making his mark, pardoning approximately 1,500 supporters involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. He declared, “I was saved by God to make America great again,” positioning himself as a divinely chosen leader.
Swift and Polarizing Actions
Trump quickly tackled immigration, halting a program allowing migrants to schedule legal U.S. entry and canceling flights for nearly 1,660 Afghan refugees, including families of U.S. military personnel. He declared a national emergency at the southern border, dispatched troops, and ended birthright citizenship, a move likely to spark legal battles. Mexican drug cartels were designated terrorist organizations, and Trump once again withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord.
Trump also targeted domestic policies, freezing federal hiring, reversing Biden-era regulations on artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, and mandating a return to in-person work for federal employees. He established a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” led by Elon Musk, to slash government spending. Meanwhile, over 1,000 Biden appointees were reportedly being replaced with Trump loyalists, and nonpartisan senior diplomats were asked to resign.
A Partisan and Controversial Tone
Trump’s inauguration speech blended calls for unity with partisan jabs. He repeated false claims about immigration and criticized Biden’s administration for prioritizing foreign borders over American security. With prominent tech executives like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg in attendance, Trump vowed to send astronauts to Mars and even rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Musk enthusiastically raised his fists in response.
Foreign Policy Shifts
Trump announced plans to take back control of the Panama Canal and delivered foreign policy statements that alarmed U.S. allies. His return to power highlighted stark divides at home and abroad, as he aimed to reshape America’s role on the global stage.
A Contentious Transition
Outgoing President Joe Biden issued last-minute pardons, including for General Mark Milley, whom Trump had threatened with retaliation. Milley’s Pentagon portrait was removed shortly after Trump’s inauguration. Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, along with Hillary Clinton, attended the ceremony, but Michelle Obama notably stayed away.
Trump’s triumphant return to the presidency, marred by controversy and sweeping reversals of Biden-era policies, signaled a turbulent new chapter for the United States.