President Donald Trump wasted no time making waves in his first week back in office, rolling out a series of bold actions that highlight his signature style of leadership: unapologetically decisive, laser-focused on America First, and utterly unconcerned with appeasing critics. From overhauling immigration policies to renaming landmarks and reforming FEMA, Trump’s initial week has been a whirlwind of executive orders, policy reversals, and moves likely to keep the left reeling for months.
Immigration Crackdown: No More Open Borders
Trump wasted no time tackling illegal immigration, which he described as a “national emergency.” Among his sweeping actions were deploying the military to the southern border, resuming border wall construction, and ending birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens—a policy immediately challenged by federal courts. Trump also scrapped the CBP One app, which had become a symbol of Biden-era leniency, and suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program until it could “align with the interests of the United States.”
Adding teeth to his policies, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to combat what he called “predatory incursions” at the border. His administration even achieved a record-breaking number of deportations, with Mexico accepting four flights of illegal immigrants in a single day. The left may cry foul, but Trump’s actions send a clear message: the border crisis will no longer be tolerated.
Bold Pardons and High-Profile Firings
In keeping with his campaign promises, Trump pardoned 1,500 individuals connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, arguing many had been treated unfairly. He also pardoned pro-life demonstrators convicted under Biden’s DOJ policies and controversially pardoned two former Washington police officers convicted in a 2020 case involving a fatal collision during a pursuit. Trump faced criticism for these moves, even from Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham, but made it clear he would not back down from addressing what he sees as injustices.
Trump also wasted no time draining the swamp, firing a dozen inspectors general across federal agencies who had been appointed during Biden’s presidency. He defended the dismissals as a common practice to ensure alignment with his administration’s goals, though the move drew bipartisan scrutiny for bypassing the 30-day notice required by law.
Renaming Landmarks and Overhauling FEMA
True to form, Trump made headlines by renaming two prominent U.S. landmarks. The Gulf of Mexico is now officially the Gulf of America, and Mount Denali has reverted to its former name, Mount McKinley, reversing Obama-era changes. These moves may rile environmentalists and globalists, but for Trump, they symbolize putting America back in charge of its own identity.
During a visit to hurricane-stricken North Carolina, Trump announced plans to overhaul—or potentially eliminate—FEMA. He criticized the agency’s inefficiency and suggested that states could better handle disaster response, with federal funds playing a supporting role. “You want to use your state to fix it, and not waste time calling FEMA,” Trump said, promising immediate aid to rebuild devastated communities.
Reversals and Records Release
Trump’s week also included rescinding over 70 Biden-era executive orders, targeting policies on immigration, environmental justice, and federal DEI programs. The Department of Education announced the removal of all DEI initiatives, and Trump placed DEI staff across federal agencies on paid leave while dismantling these programs.
One of Trump’s most intriguing actions was signing an order for the release of classified files related to the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King Jr. “A lot of people have been waiting for this for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed,” Trump promised, further stoking intrigue and anticipation among the public.
Hardline Middle East Policy
Trump also demonstrated his willingness to reshape the geopolitical landscape, proposing that Arab nations like Egypt and Jordan accept more Palestinian refugees. His vision to “clean out” Gaza and create a fresh start for the territory will undoubtedly spark global debate, but Trump’s priorities remain crystal clear: stability and security.
The America First Comeback
Trump’s whirlwind first week proves he’s not interested in playing by the usual political rules. Critics on the left will inevitably frame his actions as extreme, but for millions of Americans, this is the leadership they voted for—decisive, unapologetic, and focused on putting America first. Whether it’s enforcing immigration laws, eliminating bureaucratic inefficiency, or rewriting the narrative on U.S. landmarks, Trump’s return to the White House is already shaking up Washington in ways that only he can.