"Today, the golden age of America begins." These were the words with which the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, addressed the nation on the day of his inauguration. His was a speech markedly different from the one delivered in 2017, when he began his first term leading the country.

Back then, the American billionaire had chosen a sombre tone, whereas this time he opted for a strongly optimistic vision that took on messianic overtones: "God saved me so that I could restore America's greatness," he declared. On the condition of radically overturning the policies imposed by the Democrats on the environment, the economy, foreign trade, minority rights, and migrants.

The United States' second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

A series of presidential executive orders, approved as soon as he took office, made clear Trump's determination to act without hesitation. On the climate front, the US president ordered the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. As was the case with the first withdrawal, which dates back to 1 June 2017, this cannot be immediate, but it will be faster than seven and a half years ago.

At the time, under Article 28 of the Agreement itself, what applied was not only the one-year notice period that each nation must give to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), but also a provision stipulating that no state could choose to withdraw during the first three years after the Agreement entered into force. This had slowed the process, ensuring that the period of the United States' actual absence was considerably shortened, before the return sought by then-president Joe Biden. This time, by contrast, twelve months will suffice.

The return of drilling for oil and gas

Washington's delegates will, in any case, participate normally (at least formally) in the thirtieth United Nations Climate Conference, COP30, to be held in Brazil in November. In the meantime, however, the Trump administration could significantly weaken its own climate policies, which will likely slow the already faltering action to combat global warming. In this regard too, the new president's intentions were clearly confirmed in the first executive orders.

The head of state indicated that he will declare a national emergency and, on that basis, will resume supporting drilling for oil and gas on American territory. According to Trump, his country "possesses the largest resources in the world" of such fossil fuels, "and must use them. We will once again become a manufacturing nation and an oil-producing nation."

Pardons for 1,500 people who stormed the Capitol

But the acts signed do not stop there: they are numerous and cover completely different subjects. The most striking is the one providing a near-total pardon for more than 1,500 people convicted in connection with the storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Among the beneficiaries are those who carried out acts of violence against 140 police officers injured during the insurrection. "What was done to these people is outrageous," Trump explained, arguing that the real instigators of the riot were "outside agitators."

But the absolute priority in the presidential executive orders appears to be immigration. In reality, owing to a series of regulations, the number of undocumented migrants intercepted by US law enforcement in the second half of 2024 fell by 70 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. The total number of people returned to the border and deported also came to nearly 700,000 — a figure not reached since 2010.

Migration: a hard line, a halt to legal entry programmes, deployment of the military

Despite this, Trump's entire electoral campaign focused on the need to turn the North American country into a kind of fortress. Among the orders approved, one stands out that designates Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations. This makes it possible to immediately adopt measures to block entry. Likewise, the two-year legal admissions programme — which required applicants to demonstrate sufficient financial resources and had been introduced for people coming from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua — is being shut down.

The Washington administration also announced its intention to complete construction of the border wall with Mexico, as well as to deploy the military (and in particular the National Guard) in the border area.

Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods confirmed. A buyer is being sought for TikTok

On the economic front, Trump signed a memorandum directing all federal agencies to tackle consumer price inflation, repealing a series of measures that had been adopted under Biden. On foreign trade, he confirmed his intention to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on goods from Canada and Mexico, effective from 1 February. Somewhat surprisingly, however, no mention is made (at least for now) of tariff increases on goods arriving from China.

Trump also signed an order suspending for 75 days the ban on the use of the social network TikTok on American territory. In his view, this period of time will allow an American buyer to be found for the platform, as part of an agreement aimed at protecting national security interests.

Powers granted to Elon Musk's new Department of Efficiency

Among the acts signed by the new president, one that stands out is the one withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, as was done during his first term. The "America First" policy, in short, confirms itself as shaped by the most drastic isolationism. A thorough review of American spending on foreign aid was also ordered. And numerous delegated powers granted to senior public officials on matters of national security were revoked.

More symbolically, Trump has planned to sign an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America", and another restoring the former name of the highest mountain in the United States: it will once again be called McKinley, after Barack Obama had renamed it Denali.

Formal powers were then granted to the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will be led by the entrepreneur and owner of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk. According to Trump, this will help streamline the expenditure and functioning of the United States government.

The government will recognise only two sexes: men and women

Finally, some executive orders concern the protections granted to a number of minorities. In particular, programmes in support of transgender people and those promoting diversity, equity and inclusion are being brought to an end. Concretely, one decree declares that the federal government will recognise only two sexes: men and women.