Trump kicked off his second term on Monday morning by taking the oath of office and jumping straight into action, signaling a bold return to power.
Wasting no time, he moved back into the White House and began issuing executive orders in rapid succession to set the tone for his leadership. Within hours, his Cabinet started coming together, beginning with the confirmation of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State after the Senate gave its approval that same evening.
Trump isn’t the only Republican official preparing for the next phase in Washington. On Tuesday, the new president is expected to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune as Republican lawmakers begin crafting legislation to carry out his plans. At the same time, they’ll need to manage very narrow majorities in both the House and the Senate.
Cabinet Formation Begins Quickly
With the official start of his presidency, Trump gained the authority to submit Cabinet nominations. Those names must still go through Senate review and approval before assuming office.
The second Trump administration saw its first confirmation shortly after the inaugural ceremony when Rubio was unanimously approved as Secretary of State. He is expected to bring a strong, forceful style to foreign policy while backing Trump’s aim of peace through strength. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rubio said the administration supports a ceasefire in Ukraine, though he acknowledged that reaching one will be difficult.
“Russia has been the aggressor here, but this war has to come to an end,” Rubio stated. “Sometimes foreign policy doesn’t offer you a clear choice between good and bad. You’re left weighing two poor options and trying to decide which one saves more lives and brings some level of calm.”
More nominees are expected to be reviewed soon, which could place additional leadership across key government agencies. Even Trump’s more disputed picks appear to have a path forward.
Pete Hegseth, nominated for Defense Secretary, entered the process facing accusations including sexual assault, mishandling finances, and misconduct on duty. These topics were discussed at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week.
Still, several Republican senators, including Joni Ernst of Iowa who was seen as a potential swing vote, did not press hard and instead offered compliments, suggesting Hegseth could clear the Senate without too much trouble. The committee voted 14 to 13 along party lines on Monday night to advance his nomination.
When asked if Hegseth’s limited background in defense raised any concerns, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who chairs the Armed Services Committee, said he was confident. “He knows plenty, and honestly, we need new energy in the Pentagon,” Wicker responded.
Other nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, are expected to face deeper examination during their hearings.
Executive Orders Come in a Flurry
Trump wasted no time making policy moves on his first day. He signed numerous executive orders, beginning with a halt on any new regulations while he prepared to place his appointees across the federal government. He also stopped hiring for federal positions.
Among his initial actions was the reversal of 78 executive orders from President Joe Biden. Trump also removed the United States from the Paris climate agreement, signed orders aimed at stopping what he called government-led suppression of speech, and took steps against what he described as political misuse of federal agencies.
Once he returned to the White House, Trump issued pardons to about 1,500 individuals with convictions related to the January 6 Capitol riot. He declared an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, altered policies around birthright citizenship, and labeled cartels as international terrorist groups.
Like many of his predecessors, Trump is expected to continue relying on executive actions in the early days to move forward on major promises, since they provide a fast way to shape federal policy.
He has not yet acted on one of his campaign pledges to impose tariffs on countries like Canada, Mexico, and China. Still, he mentioned this issue during his inaugural remarks. “I’m going to start fixing our trade system right away to help American families and workers,” Trump said. “Rather than placing tax burdens on Americans for the benefit of other nations, we will apply tariffs to foreign countries so our people benefit instead.”
Congress Moves to Back Trump’s Plans
With formal celebrations over, lawmakers are now focused on translating Trump’s plans into legislation. Their goals include passing stricter border control laws, encouraging more domestic energy production, and continuing Trump-era tax policies while adding new ones.
“Republicans are fully engaged with our goals,” Thune said during a speech at Trump’s inaugural luncheon on Monday. “We’re working to reduce harmful rules, strengthen the military, protect the border, and expand tax relief for working families.”
Still, disagreement remains between the House and Senate over how to approach these bills. They plan to use a legislative tool called reconciliation that allows them to pass budget-related laws in the Senate without needing Democratic votes.
The House is pushing for one massive bill that includes all priorities, while Senate leaders prefer breaking it into two parts so they can move quickly on immigration and energy and take more time addressing tax changes. Leaders from both chambers have agreed to try the single-bill route first, switching only if it becomes impossible to pass that way.
At the same time, lawmakers need to address the debt ceiling, which is expected to be hit on Tuesday. Speaker Johnson agreed to raise the limit by $1.5 trillion, along with a $2.5 trillion cut in federal spending and passage of Trump’s legislative goals. This will be difficult, as increasing the debt limit is often unpopular and many Republican lawmakers have never supported such a move before.
Johnson hopes to pass this full legislative package by April. While that work continues, Congress is moving forward on smaller proposals that could draw bipartisan support.
On Monday night, the Senate finalized the Laken Riley Act, which would require immigration enforcement officials to detain noncitizens found guilty of specific crimes. This is likely to become the first law signed by this Congress.
Trump’s first day back in the White House was packed with action, and his second day looks like it may be just as intense.
