{"id":23946,"date":"2025-01-21T12:23:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T19:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/trump-sets-out-to-erase-bidens-legacy-with-pardons-and-orders\/"},"modified":"2025-01-21T19:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T19:23:12","slug":"trump-sets-out-to-erase-bidens-legacy-with-pardons-and-orders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/trump-sets-out-to-erase-bidens-legacy-with-pardons-and-orders\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump sets out to erase Biden’s legacy with pardons and orders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Donald
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Morry Gash, Pool)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Morry Gash, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

WASHINGTON \u2013 Donald Trump<\/a> began erasing Joe Biden<\/a> \u2019s legacy immediately after taking office as the nation\u2019s 47th president on Monday, pardoning<\/a> nearly all of his supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and issuing a blizzard of executive orders<\/a> that signal his desire to remake American institutions.<\/p>\n

It was an aggressive start for a returning president who feels emboldened and vindicated by his unprecedented political comeback. Four years after being voted out of the White House, Trump has a second chance to launch what he called \u201ca golden age\u201d for the country.<\/p>\n

He signed orders for increasing border security, designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, limiting birthright citizenship, freezing new regulations and establishing a task force for reducing the size of the federal government. He also rescinded dozens of directives issued by Biden, including those relating to climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.<\/p>\n

Trump said that walking back into the already-remodeled Oval Office after his inauguration was \u201cone of the better feelings I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d Unlike during his first term, when new staff members scrambled to figure out what exactly their president was trying to achieve, Trump moved rapidly and methodically to advance his agenda Monday.<\/p>\n

His first action after arriving at the White House was pardoning about 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack<\/a>, even if they had been convicted of assaulting police officers. Trump commuted the sentences of another 14 people, including leaders of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.<\/p>\n

The decision amounted to a sweeping cloak of impunity for Trump supporters who upended the country\u2019s tradition of peaceful transfers of power by trying to overturn his election defeat four years ago. Trump described them as \u201chostages\u201d and said he expected them to be freed shortly. A crowd gathered outside a Washington, D.C., jail to welcome their release.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s inauguration combined formal ceremony and freewheeling rhetoric, a reminder of how Trump can abide solemnity for only so long before going off script with a blend of humor and vitriol. Before leaving the White House for an evening of inaugural balls, Trump spent nearly an hour parrying questions by reporters.<\/p>\n

He promised that tariffs on Canada and Mexico were coming, suggested that he might visit China and praised the decorators for the new look of his Oval Office. Among other changes, a portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt that had been hung by Biden was replaced with one of George Washington.<\/p>\n

Frigid weather rewrote the particulars of the day. Trump\u2019s swearing-in was moved indoors<\/a> to the Capitol Rotunda \u2013 the first time that has happened in 40 years<\/a> \u2013 and the inaugural parade was replaced by an event with marching bands at Capital One Arena.<\/p>\n

In his inaugural address, Trump declared the beginning of \u201cthe complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump said the government faces \u201ca crisis of trust.\u201d He claimed to have \u201ca mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal,\u201d promising to \u201cgive the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom this moment on,\u201d he added as Biden watched from the front row, \u201cAmerica\u2019s decline is over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also present at the ceremony was Vice President Kamala Harris<\/a>, who replaced Biden on the ballot after he abandoned his reelection bid last summer, only to be defeated by Trump in the general election.<\/p>\n

Trump said he would lead a government that \u201cexpands our territory,\u201d a reference to his goals of acquiring Greenland from Denmark and restoring U.S. control of the Panama Canal.<\/p>\n

He also pledged to \u201cpursue our manifest destiny into the stars\u201d by launching American astronauts to Mars. Elon Musk, the world\u2019s richest man and the owner of a space rocket company with billions of dollars in federal contracts, cheered and flashed two thumbs-up as Trump spoke.<\/p>\n

Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the incoming president take the oath of office from the National Mall were left to find other places to view the ceremony when it was moved inside. But a cadre of tech titans \u2013 including Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai \u2013 were given prominent positions in the Rotunda. They mingled with Trump\u2019s incoming team in a striking display of wealth<\/a> for a Republican president who is also a billionaire but branded himself as a working-class crusader.<\/p>\n

After the ceremony, Trump walked with Biden to the building\u2019s east side, where the Democrat left via helicopter to begin his postpresidential life.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s inaugural address was just the beginning of the thoughts he shared on his second first day as president.<\/p>\n

Trump followed Biden\u2019s departure with extended and unscripted remarks to supporters in the Capitol that revisited a litany of conspiracy theories about voter fraud and criticisms of perceived enemies such as former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, whom he called \u201ca crying lunatic.\u201d<\/p>\n

He spoke for even longer than in his inaugural address, saying, \u201cI think this is a better speech than the one I gave upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he went to the Capital One Arena to begin signing executive orders as thousands of supporters cheered, melding the theatrics of his campaign rallies with the powers of the presidency.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won, we won, but now the work begins,\u201d Trump said before a crowd of people in \u201cMake America Great Again\u201d hats.<\/p>\n

He abandoned the more earnest tone of his inaugural address and taunted his predecessor while scrawling his name in thick black ink on his executive orders.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould you imagine Biden doing this?\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think so!\u201d<\/p>\n

When finished, he tossed the pens into the crowd.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s inauguration realized a political comeback without precedent in American history. Four years ago, he was voted out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied his defeat and tried to cling to power. He directed his supporters to march on the Capitol<\/a> while lawmakers were certifying the election results, sparking a riot that interrupted the country\u2019s tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.<\/p>\n

But Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party and was undeterred by criminal cases and two assassination attempts<\/a> as he steamrollered rivals and harnessed voters\u2019 exasperation with inflation and illegal immigration.<\/p>\n

Now Trump is the first person convicted of a felony<\/a> \u2013 for falsifying business records related to hush money payments \u2013 to serve as president. He pledged to \u201cpreserve, protect and defend\u201d the Constitution from the same spot that was overrun by his supporters on Jan. 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all believe God\u2019s hand has been on this man to be elected,\u201d said Pam Pollard, 65, a longtime Republican official from Oklahoma, who came to Washington to see him sworn in.<\/p>\n

Trump has promised retribution against his political opponents and critics, and he\u2019s placed personal loyalty as a prime qualification for appointments to his administration.<\/p>\n

With minutes to go before leaving office, Biden issued preemptive pardons<\/a> to his siblings and their spouses to shield them from the possibility of prosecution. He also pardoned current and former government officials who have been the target of Trump\u2019s anger. Biden said \u201cthese are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump, talking to reporters in the Oval Office late in the day, criticized Biden\u2019s pardons, saying \u201cthat makes him look very guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n

A reporter asked Trump if Biden had left him a note<\/a> in the desk, a tradition during presidential transitions. Trump looked in a drawer and found an envelope.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we should all read it together?\u201d Trump joked when holding it up for the cameras. But he didn\u2019t open the envelope.<\/p>\n

\"President
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President-elect
President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span>(Saul Loeb\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Donald Trump kisses first lady Melania Trump during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Donald Trump, center, celebrates with Barron Trump, from left, Melania Trump, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump after being sworn in the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston\/The New York Times via AP, Pool)<\/span>(Kenny Holston\/The New York Times via AP, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President-elect
President-elect Donald Trump arrives at the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston\/The New York Times via AP, Pool)<\/span>(Kenny Holston\/The New York Times via AP, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Donald Trump speaks after taking the oath of office during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston\/The New York Times via AP, Pool)<\/span>(Kenny Holston\/The New York Times via AP, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Joe Biden, center left, and first lady Jill Biden, left, greet President-elect Donald Trump, center right, and Melania Trump, right, upon arriving at the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Donald Trump, center, takes part in a signing ceremony in the President's Room after the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Surrounding the president are, from left, Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Vice President JD Vance; first lady Melania Trump; House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.; and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. (Melina Mara\/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)<\/span>(Melina Mara\/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A sign is seen near St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, where President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania will attend an early morning service to start Trump's Inauguration Day. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Supporters
Supporters of President Donald Trump bow their heads during the invocation while watching inauguration ceremonies taking place at the U.S. Capitol on screens at Capitol One Arena in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Protesters
Protesters rally on Inauguration Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Pastor
Pastor of 180 Church Lorenzo Sewell, delivers a benediction after President Donald Trump was sworn in during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span>(Saul Loeb\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"From
From left, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span>(Chip Somodevilla\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"From
From left, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and former President George W. Bush, speak following the 60th Presidential Inauguration for President Donald Trump, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Shawn Thew\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span>(Shawn Thew\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Guests
Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"TikTok
TikTok CEO Shou Chew puts on his coat after the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Open
Open AI CEO Sam Altman, center, speaks with boxer Jake Paul and wrestler Logan Paul in Emancipation Hall at the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Al Drago\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span>(Al Drago\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Elon
Elon Musk arrives to speak at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span>(AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Han
Han Zheng, Vice President of the People's Republic of China, attends the 60th Presidential Inauguration of President Donald Trump, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Shawn Thew\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span>(Shawn Thew\/Pool photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"President
President Donald Trump salutes while on stage in Emancipation Hall at the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Al Drago\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span>(Al Drago\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"First
First lady Melania Trump, from second right, and President Donald Trump walk walk as former President Joe Biden salutes after boarding a Marine helicopter en route to Joint Base Andrews after the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Jack Gruber\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span>(Jack Gruber\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President vows to launch \u2018golden age\u2019 for U.S.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[28,299,29,826,315],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-23946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-headlines","tag-national-elections","tag-newsletter","tag-political-campaigns","tag-president-donald-trump"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23946"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=23946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}