- Joe Biden had left “a lot of work,” explains the Republican.
- The president floats the idea of ending federal disaster aid.
- Trump discusses barrage of executive orders.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced Wednesday the deployment of 1,500 additional U.S. troops to the Mexican border, as he intensified a crackdown on illegal immigration and diversity programs in a whirlwind start to his second term.
The 78-year-old Republican – who has promised a “golden age” for America – has halted refugee arrivals and threatened to sue local authorities who fail to deport migrants.
As part of his blitz of right-wing measures on returning to office, the billionaire also ordered that US government employees in diversity programs – designed as ways to combat racism and sexism – be immediately in paid leave.
Trump held what would have been his first phone call with a foreign leader since taking office on Monday, speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has promised increased trade with the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs. Kingdom.
And in the latest round of nominations, Trump announced that fast-food executive Andrew Puzder — who has already faced questions about his business and private conduct — will be the new U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
He named his longtime Secret Service bodyguard Sean Curran — who was at his side when an assassin opened fire and grazed his ear at a presidential campaign rally last July — as his director of the security agency, which protects the president and other senior officials.
But as Trump is being wheeled through Washington, there have been some surprise speedbumps.
Close adviser and world’s richest man Elon Musk revealed budding tensions when he hit a mega AI investment deal that Trump himself publicly touted during a televised event at the White House, flanked by the best moguls of Silicon Valley.
And Trump raised questions when he threatened Russia with sanctions if it doesn’t agree to an unspecified Ukraine peace deal – something he previously said he would shut down within 24 hours.
His predecessor Joe Biden left him with a lot of work to do,” Trump said Fox News Sean Hannity in his first television interview since taking office.
As Los Angeles continues to be burned by wildfires, he has also floated the idea of ending federal disaster aid and disbanding FEMA, the government agency that manages disasters.
“I’d rather see states take care of their own problems,” he told Hannity.
Migrants and diversity fight
Trump, who has more than a dozenFox News His administration staffers discussed his barrage of executive orders and his plans for the first 100 days.
But it was a typically divisive conversation, with Trump — investigated for leading unprecedented efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss — calling Democrats “stupid” and asserting that “the only thing they’re good at is is really cheating.”
Since returning to the White House, Trump has focused heavily on tough migration measures.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump was sending 1,500 troops to add to the contingent of more than 2,000 at the Mexican border.
It also halted arrivals of refugees already allowed to enter the United States as part of the crackdown, according to a State Department memo.
Trump’s other main focus has been on anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
It ordered related government websites and social media accounts to move offline and federal workers involved to give paid leave.
Trump also ended what he called “radical” affirmative action in awarding federal contracts, revoking an order designed to combat racism that dates back to the civil rights era of the 1960s.
One of Trump’s first acts as president on Monday was to pardon more than 1,000 supporters who stormed the US Capitol, attacking police and vandalizing the seat of American democracy, after he lost in 2020.
A row between Trump and the bishop of the National Cathedral, who asked him during his sermon at a service he attended Tuesday to show “mercy” to “scared” migrants and LGBTQ people, thousands .
Trump called Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde “nasty” and she later said The New York Times that she felt compelled to speak.
“Was anyone going to say something about the way the country is going?”
