In the weeks following his dreaded return to office on Jan. 20, 2025, United States President Donald Trump has been quick to declare a flurry of executive orders and policies that uphold his “America First” agenda, receiving both support and controversy. From immigration crackdowns and trade tariffs, his actions have set the tone for a presidency that could redefine the nation’s policies and influence stability on the global stage for decades to come.

One of Trump’s most notable moves was the declaration of a national emergency at the United States-Mexico border, authorizing the secretary of defense to reallocate funds within the department to subsidize construction of the border wall. Included in his series of proclamations was the proposal to terminate birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. Legal experts have raised concerns, citing conflicts with Section 1 of the 14th Amendment, which grants American citizenship to all persons “born or naturalized in the United States.”

On the economic front, Trump plans to impose an additional 25% increase in tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, while imposing 10% on goods from China. The administration portrays this as a plan for the US to be self-reliant on manufacturing, but critics argue it could strain trade relations and drive up consumer costs. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax policy organization, estimates the tariffs on China alone would add USD$172 to the tax burden of every US household and affect more than USD$450 billion worth of imports.

President Trump also moved to shut down all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices in the federal workforce. Similar to the ban on affirmative action, this aims to combat “unlawful or reverse discrimination,” and has been portrayed by the official White House website as “the most important federal civil rights measure in decades.” This, coupled with the mandate recognizing only two genders under federal law, has sparked debate across the nation between liberals and conservatives.

“What Trump is trying to do is to make sure, no matter what you’re trying to identify as, you’re gonna be protected under the US Constitution and not just some paper politics, like what Biden is doing,” said Raymond H. (‘27), a supporter of the current president.

Aside from enacting his own policies, Trump has also announced the withdrawal from key intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). While this may strengthen US control over domestic health and foreign aid spending, it marks a step back from its moral obligation to support vulnerable communities in underdeveloped nations and regions in dire need of humanitarian aid.