This week is mostly about President Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president, with a flurry of executive orders and illegal immigrant deportations expected soon.
President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance were sworn into office inside the Capitol Rotunda, avoiding the dangerously cold temperatures forecast for Washington, D.C. The entire ceremony, including prayers and speeches, will take place indoors, according to Trump’s announcement on Truth Social.
This marks the first indoor inauguration due to weather since Ronald Reagan’s second term in 1985, and the second such event in history, following James Monroe’s indoor inauguration due to a snowstorm.
Mexico’s Slim and Cervantes to Attend Inauguration; Sheinbaum Left Out
Billionaire Carlos Slim, Mexico’s wealthiest man with a net worth nearing $100 billion, will attend Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States in Washington, D.C. He will be joined by Francisco Cervantes, president of Mexico’s influential Business Coordinating Council (CCE), who confirmed plans to begin talks with high-ranking U.S. officials during the event.
Notably absent from the invitation list is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Mexico will be officially represented by Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma. The Trump administration’s policies, including a planned 25% tariff on Mexican exports and mass deportation operations, are expected to pose significant challenges to Mexico.
Slim expressed confidence that the Mexican economy would navigate these challenges effectively, emphasizing its complementary relationship with the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, Sheinbaum’s government has signaled readiness to implement reciprocal tariffs and address deportation logistics if needed.
World leaders, including Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, are also set to make history by attending a U.S. presidential inauguration.
Early Executive Orders: A Preview
Stephen Miller, Trump’s top domestic policy adviser, briefed Republican lawmakers Sunday on an ambitious slate of executive orders planned for the early days of the administration. These orders, many of which Trump had campaigned on, will focus on government reform, energy policy, and immigration. While details remain fluid, key areas discussed:
- Government reform: Streamlining federal hiring and dismissal processes, targeting DEI initiatives, and reforming rules for Schedule F employees.
- Energy policy: Halting climate-related spending, accelerating energy infrastructure projects, expanding drilling — including in the Arctic — and repealing electric vehicle mandates. Also: declare a national emergency related to energy.
- Immigration: Declaring cartels as terrorist organizations, reinstating strict border policies like “Remain in Mexico,” declare an emergency at the U.S./Mexico border, which will allow Trump to deploy military forces to the border, and ending “catch and release.”
Miller cautioned that these orders are still under development, with specific details yet to be finalized. Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, is expected to play a significant role in shaping and implementing these executive orders. Miller’s involvement suggests a continuation of the hardline approach to immigration that characterized Trump’s first term.
Trump to Delay Tariffs on China, Signals Shift Toward Negotiation
President-elect Donald Trump is not expected to impose China-specific tariffs on his first day in office, signaling a strategic shift toward engagement with Beijing rather than reigniting a trade war.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the decision reflects Trump’s desire to begin his second term in a negotiating mode, with hopes of striking a new deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During his first term, Trump brokered a “Phase 1” trade deal with China, but many of Beijing’s commitments to purchase U.S. goods were not fully realized. While plans are underway for a memorandum directing federal agencies to review trade policies with China, Canada, and Mexico, the approach appears more measured than the aggressive tariff rhetoric from Trump’s campaign.
However, sources caution that Trump’s strategy could shift, given his history of abrupt decisions. His swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for midday Monday in Washington.
Trump to Declare National Energy Emergency to Boost Domestic Production
President-elect Donald Trump will declare a national energy emergency after his inauguration on Monday to lower energy costs, an incoming White House official announced.
The emergency declaration is expected to “unlock a variety of different authorities” to enhance natural resource production, though specific measures were not disclosed.
The official emphasized the importance of energy independence in the context of the U.S./China AI race, highlighting the need for domestic energy to power advanced technology. Additionally, Trump plans to sign an executive order to accelerate energy production in Alaska, citing its geostrategic significance and potential for LNG exports to the Asia-Pacific region.
Focus on Deregulation
President-elect Donald Trump plans to start one of the most sweeping deregulatory drives in U.S. history. Border czar Tom Homan says the incoming administration is assessing plans to launch post-inauguration immigration raids in Chicago after plans leaked in news reports about plans for a large-scale immigration raid in Chicago Tuesday.
Trump has outlined a sweeping array of 31 major policy initiatives for his second term, according to the Washington Post. These include moves on immigration, such as mass deportations, reinstating a travel ban, and ending birthright citizenship. He also plans significant economic shifts, like imposing high tariffs on imports, cutting taxes, and promoting cryptocurrency. The list, according to the WaPo:
1. Immigration
- Mass Deportations: Pledges to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, including undocumented workers.
- ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program: Plans to reinstate policies requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico.
- Travel Ban: Intends to reimpose restrictions on travelers from several majority-Muslim countries.
- Birthright Citizenship: Proposes ending automatic citizenship for children of noncitizens.
- Punish Sanctuary Cities: Plans to cut federal funding to cities refusing to cooperate with deportations.
- Death Penalty for Migrants: Advocates for automatic death sentences for migrants who kill U.S. citizens.
- Border Wall: Plans to complete construction of the U.S./Mexico border wall.
2. Economy
- Tariffs: Proposes imposing tariffs on all imports and higher rates on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada.
- Inflation: Vows to lower prices, including energy and gas costs.
- Tax Cuts: Promises extensive tax reductions, potentially adding to the national debt.
- Eliminate Taxes on Tips and Overtime: Suggests removing taxes on certain income sources.
- Cryptocurrency: Aims to make the U.S. a global leader in cryptocurrency by adopting industry-friendly policies.
3. Education
- Abolish Education Department: Proposes dismantling the department, redirecting its responsibilities elsewhere.
- Punish Schools Over Content: Plans to cut federal funding for schools promoting “critical race theory” or “radical gender ideology.”
- Transgender Policies: Seeks to ban trans athletes from women’s sports and revoke inclusive school policies.
- School Vouchers: Advocates for taxpayer-funded school-choice programs.
4. Environment
- Rollback of Regulations: Plans to remove policies addressing climate change and protecting species.
- Oil and Gas Expansion: Proposes increasing domestic production and exports of fossil fuels.
- Paris Climate Agreement: Intends to withdraw the U.S. from this global pact.
5. Healthcare
- Lower Costs: Pledges to reduce healthcare and prescription drug expenses.
- Preserve Social Security and Medicare: Promises to maintain these programs while cutting waste.
- Abortion Laws: Plans to leave decisions on abortion to state legislatures.
- Free IVF: Proposes covering in vitro fertilization costs.
6. Democracy and Governance
- Retaliation Against Rivals: Suggests acting against political enemies and media outlets.
- Reshape Federal Workforce: Plans mass job cuts, reduce union power, and make civil servants “at-will” employees.
- Voting Requirements: Proposes stricter voter ID and citizenship proof, ending mail-in and early voting.
- Pardon Jan. 6 Defendants: Pledges to pardon individuals charged in the Capitol riot.
7. Defense and Foreign Policy
- Isolationism: Advocates for “America First” policies, including shutting out imports and withdrawing from international conflicts.
- End Wars in Ukraine and Middle East: Claims he would end these conflicts quickly, potentially conceding to adversaries.
- Military Diversity Policies: Plans to reverse diversity initiatives and restrict women in combat roles.
- Strike Mexican Cartels: Proposes military action against cartels operating in Mexico.
These policies reflect significant shifts across numerous domains and have raised concerns about their feasibility and broader implications.
It’s also key to note Trump will meet with House and Senate GOP leadership at the White House on Tuesday.
Vance, Han Discuss Trade and Fentanyl Ahead of Inauguration
Vice President-elect JD Vance met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Washington to discuss trade and the fentanyl crisis, a day before Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
The meeting follows a call on Friday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which addressed similar topics, including TikTok. Han is expected to attend Monday’s inaugural ceremony, relocated indoors due to subfreezing temperatures in the capital. it will be the first time a high-ranking Chinese official attends a U.S. presidential inauguration. The Vance/Han meeting represents the most substantial individual engagement for Vance since securing his election victory alongside Trump last year.
Of note: Han also met billionaire Elon Musk and other U.S. business figures, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to set a positive tone in ties with the US before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office.
TikTok Returns After Brief U.S. Shutdown Amid Uncertainty
TikTok has reappeared in the United States following a temporary shutdown that began late Saturday night, Jan. 18. The app was blocked due to a federal law mandating that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations. Service began to be restored on Sunday, January 19, driven by two key developments: (1) President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention: Trump announced plans to issue an executive order on his inauguration day, Jan.20, to delay the ban’s implementation.
He emphasized the need for negotiations to protect national security and suggested the possibility of a joint venture granting the U.S. a 50% ownership stake in TikTok’s operations. (2) TikTok’s agreement with service providers: TikTok confirmed service restoration through agreements with its service providers.
The company thanked President-elect Trump for providing “necessary clarity and assurance.” While the app is back online, its future remains uncertain, contingent on the Trump administration’s actions and potential negotiations with ByteDance.
Biden Issues Pre-emptive Pardons on Final Day in Office
Outgoing President Joe Biden issued pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 select committee. including GOP Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), as well as police officers who testified before it.
The pardons also extended to Gen. Mark Milley, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In a statement, Biden emphasized that the pardons “should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing.”
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