The Trump effect: How his first week in office feels like a throwback to his first term
Donald Trump’s first week back in the White House set the stage for what promises to be another tumultuous term. His actions and statements have already stirred controversy, reflecting both the familiar Trump style and a new, more calculated approach to governing. From sweeping pardons to a revitalised agenda, Trump wasted no time asserting his power.
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An Empowered President: Rewarding Allies and Punishing Critics
One of Trump’s first acts upon taking office was the pardoning of over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. These individuals, many of whom were responsible for violent clashes with police, were granted clemency in a stark reversal of earlier statements by his vice president, JD Vance, who had suggested that only non-violent offenders would be pardoned.
This decision, emblematic of Trump’s strategy to reward his supporters and punish those who oppose him, was not limited to pardons. He also ended protective security details for former officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, John Bolton, and Mike Pompeo, even as they faced threats to their safety. In addition, he revoked the security clearances of several former government figures who had publicly criticised him, including Bolton, and ordered the removal of General Mark Milley’s portrait from Pentagon walls.
