Trump pardons 1,500 Capitol rioters as he signs first orders of presidency
Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president –
Trump says he is issuing around 1,500 pardons in connection with the Capitol riots on 6 January 2021, as he signs a some of the first orders of his presidency in the Oval Office
He also declares a “national emergency” at the US-Mexico border
Earlier, Trump spoke to thousands of supporters at a stadium in Washington DC, where he also signed a raft of orders
“The golden age of America begins right now,” he said in his inaugural address, adding that he will be a “peacemaker and a unifier”
Donald Trump says he was surprised that Joe Biden pardoned members of his own family, saying it sets an “unbelievable precedent”.
“Now maybe every president that leaves office, they’re going to pardon every person they ever met,” he says.
Asked if he would do the same thing, Trump says, “I guess now I have precedent to do it”, but says he wouldn’t want to.
“I think it makes you look very guilty”, Trump says, adding it makes Biden look “bad” and “weak”.
Trump did not mention that he previously pardoned the father of his daughter, Ivanka’s husband: Charles Kushner. From an order tackling the definition of birthright citizenship, to an order declaring the illegal immigration at the border a national emergency, Trump swiftly made moves on his promises to tighten the US-Mexico border.
But some of those orders – particularly any order that aims to change the definition of birthright citizenship – are likely to face steep legal opposition.
Trump had previously vowed that the “destructive” policies of the Biden White House would be gone “within five minutes”.
Hours earlier, thousands of would-be migrants had their immigration appointments cancelled after the new administration scrapped CBP One, an app used to book appearances at ports of entry at the border.
In his inaugural address, Trump vowed that “all illegal entry will be halted” and that millions of “criminal aliens” will be deported.
