If you’ve already got a major case of Trumptitis, don’t worry, we only have another, what, four years of near-constant coverage…?!
But whether you enjoy seeing his face splashed everywhere you look or not, some of the new American president’s actions are impossible to ignore.
Yes, it’s been one hell of a ride so far.
And we’re only on Day 11. Which all sounds a bit Big Brother to us… Interestingly, sales of 1984 by George Orwell have absolutely sky-rocketed since Trump’s inauguration.
Mainly due to his advisor’s ‘alternative facts’ comment – go figure!
From these ‘alternative facts’ to some seriously controversial executive actions, culminating in a so-called ‘Muslim travel ban’, here’s what you need to know so far…
1. Immediately signed executive order to roll back Obamacare
You’ve got to give it to him, he’s not one to waste time. Within hours of taking the oath of office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at rolling back the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare that covers some 20 million Americans. It was a strong message to America but, of course, it was only the beginning.
2. Declared his inauguration day, Jan 20, ‘National Day of Patriotic Devotion’
We’ve included this particular point not because there’s anything wrong with being patriotic, but because it seems Trump is more about his legacy, above all else. Indeed, as he gave his first speech at the CIA, standing in front of the CIA memorial wall, he used the momentous occasion to talk about the crowd size at his inauguration. Some outlets are also reporting he planted supporters in the audience to clap during the speech.
3. Instructed his spokesman Sean Spicer to reprimand media over crowd size reports
Which brings us neatly onto Sean Spicer’s lie about the crowd during the inauguration. Spicer said: “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period. Both in person and around the globe.”
A lie.
But, crowd size, let’s face it, shouldn’t even be an important issue to Trump, who has other pressing matters to attend to. You know, like being the leader of the free world.
Kellyanne Conway later clarified that Spicer was not lying, but merely presenting “alternative facts”. A dangerous phrase whichever way you look at it.
4. Withdrew America from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Trump killed America’s involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and eight other Pacific nations. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time … It’s a great thing for the American worker,” he said as he began to overhaul trade in order to put “America first”.
However some economists actually argue the TPP was a job booster for the US.
Oh, and the Trump Administration also announced they would seek to pull out of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.
5. Reinstated the Global Gag Rule
This could literally cost women their lives.
The Global Gag Rule was first signed by Ronald Reagan in 1984, then reversed by Bill Clinton, then reinstated by George W. Bush. It essentially blocks US federal funding for non-governmental organisations that provide abortion counselling or referrals, advocate to decriminalise abortion or expand abortion services.
After Bush’s reinstatement, the U.S. stopped providing aid to groups it said were violating the rule in 20 different countries, and many clinics were forced to limit their services or even close.
Now that Trump has reinstated the Gag Rule, the 47,000 women who die from unsafe abortion a year will likely rise considerably.
People were also quick notice Trump signed the order in front of white American men, none of whom have ever or will ever face the often agonising decision to have an abortion.
Planned Parenthood’s Dawn Laguens said: “Women will die because of this”.
6. Said he will never release his tax records
This is important. Much like Trump choosing not to answer certain journalists, this is a way in which he will reportedly not be held accountable.
The president will not release his tax returns because “people didn’t care” about it during the election, White House advisor Kellyanne Conway said.
“He’s not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election. People didn’t care,” Conway said on ABC, two days after Trump took the oath of office.
WikiLeaks are now working to publish the records.
7. Overturned ban on 2 major oil pipeline projects
It was one of the biggest protests in the US last year, with thousands of people camping on-site for months to protect heritage sites sacred to Native American communities in North Dakota from having an oil pipeline drilled through. There were also concerns about the oil contaminating the drinking water for the nearby Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
Despite Obama shutting the project down at the end of last year, Trump has signed two executive orders to give both the Dakota Access and the equally controversial Keystone XL pipeline the go-ahead.
Interesting side note: The Trump administration has also ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to remove the climate change pages from its website. And all scientific studies and data from the EPA now has to be reviewed by political staff before publication.
8. Announced plans to expand the military
“A great rebuilding of the armed services of the United States,” is underway says Trump. “As we prepare our budget request for Congress,” he said, “… our military strength will be questioned by no one.” President Trump has also ordered a new plan to defeat ISIS to be drawn up within 30 days.
9. Said he’ll be building the infamous Mexican wall immediately
Trump signed an executive order for an “impassable physical barrier” between the US-Mexico border and told the press that Mexico would reimburse America for this wall, something the Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto refused along with cancelling his meeting with the new leader.
It sounds like it’s really happening but no word on where the money will come from yet.
10. Said torture “absolutely works”
In an interview with ABC’s World News Tonight, Trump said “people at the highest level of intelligence” told him that torture does work.
“When they (ISIS) are chopping off the heads of people because they happen to be a Christian in the Middle East; when ISIS is doing things that nobody has ever heard of since medieval times — would I feel strongly about waterboarding? As far as I’m concerned we have to fight fire with fire.”
11. Introduced ‘Muslim travel ban’ and immigration block
And in probably his most controversial action so far, Trump has gone hard on immigration, ‘to keep the country safe from terrorists’.
Here’s what the executive order blocks:
Immigrants and visa holders from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan — from entering the US for 90 days.
An indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.
Suspension of refugee programme for 120 days, and cap on 2017 numbers.
The order is facing intense backlash, both within the US and globally.
However Trump denies the ban targets Muslims:
“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion, this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” the president said in a statement yesterday.
It’s now being reported Trump will honour the refugee deal made with Australia, after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Something tells us we’re going to see a lot more changes in America and indeed, the rest of the world in the coming months.
But hey, if you really want to escape all the Trump coverage, may we suggest ‘Make America Kittens Again’, a Chrome extension that replaces pictures of Donald Trump with, you guessed it, kittens.
