Godsent Ogbebor
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the deployment of an additional 1,500 U.S. troops to the Mexican border, intensifying his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration as part of a flurry of actions marking the early days of his second term.
The 78-year-old Republican, who has pledged to usher in a “golden age” for America, also halted refugee admissions and warned local authorities of potential prosecution for failing to deport undocumented migrants.
In a move to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Trump ordered federal employees involved in these initiatives to be placed on paid leave and directed related government websites and social media platforms to be taken offline.
Trump has aggressively pursued conservative priorities since returning to office on Monday. Among his actions, he revoked federal affirmative action policies in government contracting, which date back to the civil rights era, labeling them as “radical.”
In foreign relations, Trump held his first reported call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which the Crown Prince pledged increased trade with the United States. Additionally, Trump announced controversial appointments, including Andrew Puzder, a fast-food executive, as U.S. ambassador to the European Union, and Sean Curran, his longtime Secret Service bodyguard, as the agency’s new director.
However, his administration has not been without internal friction. Elon Musk, Trump’s close advisor and the world’s richest man, criticized an AI investment project Trump had previously lauded, revealing tension within the administration.
In an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Trump criticized Democrats as “stupid” and accused them of electoral fraud. He also raised eyebrows by suggesting the disbandment of FEMA, the federal agency responsible for managing disasters, amid ongoing wildfires in California. “I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems,” he said.
Trump also pardoned over 1,000 individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, further polarizing the nation.
The White House confirmed that the troop deployment would augment the 2,000 already stationed at the border. Meanwhile, Trump halted the entry of refugees already approved for resettlement, according to a State Department memo.
In his push to dismantle DEI initiatives, Trump revoked civil rights-era affirmative action policies and declared an end to what he described as “radical” diversity programs.
Trump faced criticism from Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the National Cathedral, who urged him during a service to show “mercy” to migrants and LGBTQ individuals. Trump responded by calling the bishop “nasty,” a comment that sparked further controversy.
Bishop Budde later told The New York Times that she felt compelled to address the direction the country was taking under Trump’s leadership. “Was anyone going to say anything about the turn the country’s taking?” she asked.
