What Trump's 1st day in office could look like
WASHINGTON - Donald Trump is set to make a return to the White House after being projected the winner of the 2024 presidential race.
During his campaign for presidency, Trump outlined several things that he wants to accomplish for his first day back in office, vowing to enact significant changes across key policy areas, including immigration, energy, and foreign policy.
In recent months, Trump has made it clear that his approach to governance will be bold and immediate, stating late last year that he would not rule as a dictator "except for Day 1."
Here's a look at what Trump has said he would do on his first day in office.
Fire Special Counsel Jack Smith
On Day 1, Trump said he vowed to fire Special Counsel Jack Smith "within two seconds" if he returned to the White House.
In a recent interview on "The Hugh Hewitt Show," Trump emphasized that firing Smith, who brought two federal criminal cases against him, would be one of his top priorities upon taking office.
"We got immunity at the Supreme Court. It’s so easy. I would fire him within two seconds," Trump said, describing Smith’s investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump has long criticized the legal proceedings against him, which include multiple criminal cases. He has also vowed to take action against the prosecutors and judges involved.
Mass deportations
Trump has made immigration a central issue in his campaign, pledging to launch "the largest deportation program in American history" on his first day back in office.
Speaking at a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to rounding up and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records.
"On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program to get the criminals out," Trump told the crowd. "I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible."
Trump’s plan, which he said would involve local law enforcement and the National Guard, aims to address what he describes as the growing threat posed by illegal immigration. He has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, claiming they have made America less safe – though studies show that U.S.-born citizens are more likely to be arrested for violent crimes than undocumented immigrants.
In an NBC interview Thursday, Trump said that he has "no choice" but to move forward with the plan he plugged on the campaign trail to carry out what he and aides promised would be the largest deportation effort in American history.
He added: "It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag."
In addition to mass deportations, Trump said he would sign an executive order on Day 1 to stop federal agencies from giving automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and would likely resume the construction of the border wall, halted by the Biden administration.
Free some convicted Jan. 6 rioters
Trump also pledged that one of his first acts in a second term would be to pardon individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Speaking at a CNN townhall in May 2023, Trump said he was "inclined to pardon many" of those involved in the insurrection but acknowledged that he couldn’t say that for "every single one, because a couple of them, probably, got out of control."
"I will sign their pardons on Day 1," Trump also reiterated at a September rally, promising to review the cases of those he deemed "wrongfully imprisoned" by the Biden-Harris administration.
As of October, more than 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol breach, with more than half pleading guilty to various crimes, including assaults on law enforcement officers.
End climate, energy policies
Trump has made clear that if he was reelected, one of his first acts in office would be to dismantle key elements of the Biden administration’s climate and energy agenda.
Speaking at rallies and in campaign videos, Trump has vowed to terminate the "Green New Deal," a term he uses to describe various climate policies pushed by Democrats, including the Inflation Reduction Act.
Trump criticized the Green New Deal as a "scam" and promised to rescind unspent funds allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes significant investments in clean energy and climate initiatives.
"To further defeat inflation, my plan will terminate the Green New Deal, which I call the Green New Scam. The greatest scam in history, probably," Trump said during a speech at the Economic Club of New York in September.
At a rally in New Jersey, he also promised to sign an executive order "on Day 1" to halt offshore wind energy projects, which he has repeatedly claimed harm marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has debunked this claim, but Trump has continued to push it as part of his broader criticism of clean energy initiatives.
He has also expressed interest in withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords once again, a move he made during his first term, only for President Biden to rejoin after taking office.
Drill, baby, drill
Additionally, Trump has revived his "drill, baby, drill" slogan, signaling his commitment to expanding domestic oil and gas production.
He has argued that energy independence, fueled by increased fossil fuel production, is crucial to addressing economic challenges, particularly inflation.
When asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity what he meant by being a "dictator" on his first day, Trump replied: "I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill. We’re closing the border and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator."
Cut federal funding for some schools
Among the other measures, Trump has additionally outlined plans for his first day that focus on education, transgender rights, and vaccine mandates. These promises, which have become central themes of his 2024 campaign, would target policies put in place by the Biden administration.
Among Trump’s most notable Day 1 actions would be to cut federal funding "for any school or program pushing Critical Race Theory, gender ideology, or other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children," as well as those with vaccine mandates. While Trump would need congressional approval to implement funding cuts, the proposal has drawn significant applause from his supporters at rallies.
Foreign policy
Trump has pledged to return to a foreign policy that prioritizes America's interests above international alliances, signaling a sharp departure from the Biden administration's approach.
While Biden has focused on strengthening global partnerships and leading support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, Trump has vowed to put "America first" in his foreign policy agenda.
How will Trump's 2nd term impact Israel-U.S relations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters celebrated Donald Trump's election as president, hailing what a leader of the Israeli settler movement called an ally who would support them "unconditionally". LiveNOW from FOX host Josh Breslow spoke to Richard Goldberg, senior advisor with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Trump previously stated that he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine "before even taking office."
His comments have raised concerns among Ukraine's allies, who fear he may push for a peace deal that allows Russia to retain control over the Ukrainian territory it has invaded.