Trump’s executive orders can make change – but are limited and can be undone by the courts
The Conversation1 day
Trump Pardons Jan. 6 Rioters; Declares Energy, Border Emergency
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Above: Pres. Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
In his first hours as America's 47th president, Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and giving TikTok a 75-day extension from the US ban.
He granted clemency to all but 14 of the nearly 1,590 people charged or convicted in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, US Capitol riots and directed the Justice Department to dismiss all pending cases linked to the riot.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump's sweeping executive actions are a necessary and immediate response to urgent national challenges. They fulfill campaign promises and the mandate of 77.3M voters who supported a rapid, revolutionary change to reverse policies that have harmed American interests. By declaring, "The golden age of America begins right now," he is bringing common sense to government and renewing the pillars of American civilization.
Democratic narrative
The unprecedented number of executive orders is an overreach of presidential power that bypasses Congress and threatens constitutional checks and balances. Moreover, as Republicans control both chambers of Congress with historically thin margins, Trump's ability to implement his broader legislative agenda beyond executive orders — which will likely face significant legal challenges or prove ineffective in creating lasting policy change — will be limited.
