Grover Cleveland had been the only president in United States history to serve two non-consecutive terms until the election to a second term of newly re-sworn-in President Donald J. Trump, the 45th and now 47th president of the country.  In some ways, Cleveland’s second term shares some similarities, as it was undertaken with a fractured congress that presented significant opposition through the course of the four years.  In the current president’s case, the congress is actually under Republican control, but it would still not be a stretch to call it “fractured.”  The House has seen its margins narrow as a number of serving members have been tapped to participate in the incoming administration.  At present, the difference is 217-216, with the Vice President representing a potential tie.  The small margin of error for vote defections, as well as the jockeying for position ahead of the 2028 election which will be inevitable after the midterms, make it likely that contention will be a factor of major decisions moving forward. 

While how the country may be fundamentally changed by the second Trump term remains to be seen, it is widely agreed that the first day moves of the new-old administration (and awkward adjectives like that are one thing that is sure to be a feature of coverage for the next four years) provided evidence of a different course.

Marco Rubio, former Senator from Florida, was the first Trump official to receive confirmation.  Rubio will serve as the administration’s Secretary of State, and passed confirmation easily.  Among Trump’s picks, Rubio is also probably the least controversial, and the most familiar to the congressional body that confirmed him.  Other confirmation hearings will continue during the first weeks, including some that have already caused a stir on both sides of the aisle, like former Fox news personality Pete Hegseth for Defense, and RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services.

An executive decision saved the social media app TikTok from being banned in the United States for at least another few months.  It has been a target of many on the political right who see it as a vector through which the Chinese government is potentially data mining users around the world.  It had been set to be banned through legislation until its U.S, operation was sold to a domestic owner.  Trump’s executive order provides a 90 day extension to that ban, which at present would still require the sale to take place.  No buyer has come forward, though Elon Musk has been suggested as a possible player in the purchase.  It is worth noting that Marco Rubio has offered a dissenting opinion on the subject.

Elon Musk himself has been added to the Trump team as one of the leads of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), and has been reported to have requested a West Wing office.

Among the policy changes which have received the loudest attention are those regarding some of the longstanding concerns of Trump supporters.  In a major first day announcement, the incoming president mass pardoned January 6 rioters for their actions on that day.  The last four years have seen a consistent trickle of convictions,1,500 or so of  which are now obviated.  This includes the sentences of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were convicted of “seditious conspiracy.”

So far, the United States has been withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement (if that sounds familiar, yes, it has already happened), and the World Health Organization.  In conjunction with the selection of anti-vaccine crusader Robert Kennedy Jr., the changes in the national landscape regarding a number of medical administrative issues—and certainly guidelines—are certain to be impactful.

The two largest issues in terms of potential economic fallout are still in the announcement stages.  Trump has called for a “massive crackdown on immigration,” and an end to “birthright citizenship.”  Neither one has been put into direct action yet, though an executive order proclaimed the southern border “a national emergency,” which will make military and other resources available for deployment.  Border security is one of the issues that has long been a weak spot for Democrats, and is seen as one of the major reasons undecided voters ended up re-electing Donald Trump.  The nature and extent of the “crackdown” are unclear, but the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, particularly farmers who employ large numbers of migrant laborers, have expressed some concerns about the ability to find workers to take those places, especially since reports indicate that the administration’s rhetoric will likely slow both legal as well as illegal immigration.  

Looming tariffs, of an announced 25% on Mexico and Canada, are scheduled to begin on February 1.  Economists predict that the wholesale prices of a large number of essential consumer goods will raise by significant amounts as a result, since the costs of tariffs are directly passed on to the consuming, rather than the producing, country.  Fears that a spike in basic consumer goods will lead to a return of high inflation (already beginning to be felt again in the housing market) have caused market volatility.  It’s worth noting that the tariff move was original a “day one” vow.  The fact that it has been delayed is perhaps a sign that there has been some pushback on the scope or scale of the idea from within the administration.  

Another executive order signed into effect on Trump’s first day of the new administration, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” contains a number of changes to federal approaches to gender issues.   “Gender” will now be referred to as “sex” in federal documentation, and only two sexes will be officially recognized.  Some of the effects are purely aesthetic while others will potentially impact recipients of federal grants, which will now be reviewed to ensure that “federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.”  This could feasibly prevent schools and other educational institutions (particularly private and charter schools), daycares, afterschool programs, counseling centers, sports and recreation programs, housing facilities, food charities, shelters, and countless other groups from receiving federal funds on the basis of things like bathroom facilities, library contents, or mission statements.  

At just a couple days into the 47th presidency, it’s hard to know how much of the flurry of activity will be permanent.  The executive orders that have been signed in are all subject to potential scrutiny from the Supreme Court, and a recalcitrant Congress can certainly minimize or obstruct a lot of White House action.  At present though, it appears that the actions suggested over the last few months are moving forward full steam ahead.