Wed Jan 22 02:57:38 IST 2025: ## Trump’s First Day: Sweeping Pardons, Infrastructure Plans, and International Tensions

**Washington D.C.** – Donald Trump’s second term as President began with a flurry of controversial actions and ambitious announcements. His first full day in office saw a massive $500 billion infrastructure plan unveiled, focused on artificial intelligence and spearheaded by a new partnership between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. This initiative, dubbed “Stargate,” will see initial projects in Texas.

However, the day was largely dominated by Trump’s decision to pardon nearly 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6th Capitol riot. This move drew immediate and sharp criticism from Democrats, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it “shameful,” while Republicans largely welcomed the decision. Eighteen states have filed suit to challenge Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.

Further fueling controversy, Trump dismissed Admiral Linda Fagan, the first woman to lead a US military service, from her post as Coast Guard chief, citing unspecified “leadership deficiencies.” He also announced the dismissal of over 1,000 presidential appointees deemed “not aligned with our vision.”

On the international stage, Trump’s administration initiated trade threats against both Canada and Mexico, accusing them of lax border security and threatening 25% tariffs. Canada vowed a strong response, while Mexico urged calm. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan as part of ongoing Quad discussions. Trump’s nominee to the UN, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, criticized the organization’s “anti-Semitic rot” during her confirmation hearing.

Other key events of the day included a prisoner swap with the Taliban resulting in the release of two Americans, and the automatic following of Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s social media accounts by users who previously followed official U.S. government accounts. A prayer service attended by Trump and Vice President Vance at the Washington National Cathedral featured a plea from Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for mercy towards marginalized communities. Finally, Mexico’s president rejected Trump’s attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has also raised concerns about the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

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