On his inaugural day as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump enacted a sweeping set of executive orders aimed at dismantling key policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden, and instituting a starkly nationalist agenda. These measures signified a return to his earlier administration’s priorities, focusing on deregulation, immigration control, and traditional values while scaling back international commitments.
Reversal of Biden-Era Climate and Health Commitments
In one of his first acts, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing that the accord placed undue burdens on the U.S. economy while benefiting competitors like China and India. He also declared a national energy emergency, emphasizing the need to promote fossil fuel development. Executive orders were signed to open up protected Arctic lands and coastal waters for drilling, reversing Biden’s efforts to preserve these regions.
Further, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing it of being under undue political influence from countries like China and failing in its management of global health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump claimed the WHO’s demands on the U.S. were “unfairly onerous” compared to other member states.
Crackdown on Immigration and Birthright Citizenship
Trump signed orders tightening immigration policies, including a controversial move to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. This action challenged the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, drawing immediate criticism from civil rights groups. Trump justified the measure as a necessary step to curb illegal immigration and emphasized enhanced screening processes for immigrants.
Additionally, he invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used 1798 wartime law, to detain foreign individuals suspected of gang affiliations. The legal provision had last been employed during World War II to detain non-citizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent.
Federal Workforce and Regulatory Freeze
Trump’s first executive order mandated all federal workers to return to office full-time, reversing remote work policies implemented during the pandemic. He imposed a hiring freeze on government agencies, aimed at reducing what he called “bureaucratic bloat” and ensuring new hires align with his administration’s goals. Additionally, he placed a temporary freeze on all new federal regulations, signaling his intent to limit government intervention in business operations.
Pardons for January 6 Rioters
In a controversial move, Trump pardoned individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots. He called the prosecutions “outrageous” and dismissed charges against members of far-right groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, some of whom had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. Trump’s administration also directed the Department of Justice to drop pending cases related to the riots, fulfilling a promise made during his campaign.
Social Policy Overhauls: Gender and Identity
One of Trump’s most polarizing actions was an executive order recognizing only two genders—male and female—based on “immutable biological classification.” This move rolled back Biden-era policies supporting LGBTQ+ rights and combating discrimination against transgender individuals. Federal agencies were instructed to revise official documentation, including passports and IDs, to reflect this policy. Critics warned that the measure would exacerbate discrimination against marginalized communities.
TikTok Ban Delay
Trump signed an executive order delaying a scheduled ban on TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform, by 75 days. He stated that the extension would provide his administration with time to assess the situation and explore options for a sale or shutdown of the app. The decision hinted at potential negotiations with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, over national security concerns.
Creation of DOGE Advisory Group
In an effort to streamline government operations, Trump signed off on creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. This advisory group was tasked with identifying areas for budget cuts and optimizing federal spending. While Trump lauded the initiative as a step toward “lean governance,” critics raised concerns over potential lawsuits challenging the group’s transparency and operations.
Implications of the Policy Reset
Trump’s actions on Day 1 have set a bold tone for his presidency, prioritizing deregulation, traditional values, and an “America First” agenda. While his supporters view these measures as a decisive rollback of Biden’s progressive policies, critics argue they threaten civil rights, environmental protections, and global cooperation.
The immediate impacts of these orders are already evident in legal challenges and public outcry, particularly concerning immigration, gender policies, and the pardons for January 6 rioters. Trump’s withdrawal from international agreements has also drawn sharp criticism from allies and environmental advocates, who view these moves as undermining collective global efforts to combat pressing challenges.
Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office has heralded a dramatic shift in U.S. governance. By overturning key Biden-era policies and doubling down on his nationalist platform, Trump has reignited contentious debates on immigration, climate policy, social equity, and federal governance. As his administration moves forward, the long-term effects of these decisions will shape both domestic and international perceptions of the United States.
Trump 2.0 and Modi 3.0 Is India prepared to capitalize on this moment?
India is looking to elevate its relationship with Washington as Trump takes on one of the most powerful roles globally. Despite India’s economy has shown pliability, infrastructure continues to be an important barrier. India will need to ensure significant investments in rebuilding its infrastructure if it is to successfully compete with China’s highly efficient transport and supply chain systems.
The “Make in India” campaign has boosted India and changed the mentality of Indians into relying on and acceptance of foreign products. This drive which also stemmed from a nationalistic Indian vision has done one thing for sure, promoted indigenous and regional manufacturing. However, compared to China, its output is still low.
India should boost its manufacturing capabilities in order to become a competitive and more convincing alternative, guaranteeing both quantity and quality that satisfies the western and the European norms. Moreover, to keep the manufacturing strength of India running smoothly, the GOI at the same time should also place its focus into the simplification of taxation and labour laws. India has a significant advantage due to its growing and more importantly young population, also referred to as the demographic dividend. However, the nation must concentrate on equipping its people to become more efficient and meet the demands of manufacturing. Moreover, India still faces major obstacles in its acquisition of skilled workers as of 2022. According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship study less than 5% of India’s workforce obtains formal skills training, compared to nations like Germany which is over 70%. India needs to step up its efforts at vocational training and upskilling, if it wants to stay competitive in the global market, especially in high-tech industries.
Donald Trump’s re-entry into the Oval Office may signal renewed trade tensions between the US and China. Nevertheless, this comes with paired opportunities for India: to site itself as a reliable and an efficient alternative to China and to make stronger trade ties with both the US and Europe. However, this snatch requires more than just ambition; it requires a coordinated and collective effort to overcome infrastructure, improve manufacturing and accelerate trade negotiations.
Reference:
Express-Indian.html,2025,InputAgencies- https://indianexpress.com/article/world/trump-president-executive-orders-tiktok-who-9790227/
Shrivara Mahajan 
Aayush Pal 
Parag Gilada