Trump bursts into Oval Office to find surprise from Biden as he declares Mexican drug cartels ‘terrorists’ and pardons ALL Jan 6 rioters in first White House press conference
Donald Trump spent his first session in the Oval Office signing executive orders to pardon all January 6 defendants and declare dangerous Mexican drug cartels as “terrorists” while finding a letter written to him by Joe Biden.
Trump said he pardoned about 1,500 defendants and issued six commutations. He also directed the attorney general to request dismissal of approximately 450 pending criminal cases against Jan. 6 suspects.
The pardon fulfills Trump’s promise to release supporters who tried to help him overturn his election defeat four years ago.
“These are the hostages,” he said as he signed the papers in the Oval Office.
After hours of celebrating his new administration, Trump invited the press to his first Oval Office appearance.
Trump found a letter from Biden in the Resolute desk, but only after a journalist reminded him to look for it.
As he signed a series of executive orders, a reporter asked Trump if he had received a letter. Trump said he didn’t know and checked the desk drawers while holding up the letter for the cameras.
“Maybe we should all read it together,” Trump said before putting it aside. He said he will read it himself before sharing it publicly.
Donald Trump has pardoned people accused of participating in the January 6 riot at the Capitol

Trump said he pardoned about 1,500 defendants and issued six commutations
The letter’s envelope had “47” underlined, handwritten in what appeared to be pencil.
He signed an initial set of executive orders at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, where thousands of his supporters gathered to celebrate an inaugural parade that was moved indoors because of the cold.
The president signed several other orders, including one order revising the refugee admissions program to better align with U.S. principles and interests and another order declaring a “national emergency” at the U.S.-Mexico border, designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Trump said he was in favor of legal immigration when he signed orders declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, suspending refugee resettlement and ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in the US .
He acknowledged a looming legal challenge to overturn birthright rights, which have been enshrined in the U.S. Constitution since 1868.
Trump said automatic citizenship was “just ridiculous” and that he believes he was on “good (legal) ground” to change it.
“That’s a big one,” he joked to reporters as he signed an order declaring a state of emergency at the border.
Trump said migrant workers were needed for investments that he expects will come with higher tariffs.

Trump found a letter from Biden in the Oval Office’s Resolute desk, but only after a journalist reminded him to look for it

The president signed several other orders, including one revising the refugee admissions program to better align with U.S. principles and interests and another declaring a “national emergency” at the U.S.-Mexico border , which designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
‘I think legal immigration is fine. I like it. We need people,” he said.
Trump also signed an executive order that sets in motion the process of U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
It was the second time in less than five years that he ordered the country to withdraw from the organization, even though it was a move that many scientists fear could end decades of gains in the fight against infectious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. can reverse.
Experts also warn it could weaken the world’s defenses against dangerous new outbreaks that could cause pandemics.
Trump continued to take questions from reporters in the Oval Office as he signed a new round of executive actions.
The president said he could impose tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1. He declined to give a date for the Chinese tariffs.
Trump has spoken extensively about his tariff plans and his affection for the duties on imported goods during his multiple public remarks today.
He then revoked protections for transgender troops put in place by Biden.
“The previous administration embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the federal government,” Trump said in a statement accompanying his order, which rescinded dozens of previous Biden orders, including transgender protections.
The number of transgender troops known to serve may range from about 9,000 to possibly as many as 14,000.
The Defense Department has referred questions about the number of transgender troops to the individual services, and because of the different ways transgender troops can identify themselves and whether or not they have undergone medical procedures, there is no single database tracking them.
He also said that Elon Musk will not have a desk in the West Wing.
As he sat down to sign executive orders, Trump was asked which former president he would call for advice.
He responded that Bill Clinton was a “very interesting politician” and said he had a “great political sense.”
Trump said Clinton was “disrespected” and “not used properly.”
Trump was also asked about his friendly conversation with former President Barack Obama during former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral.
“We had some crazy conversations,” he said.
Trump has appointed Musk, the CEO of Tesla and X, to head the Department of Government Efficiency.
He also predicted that Greenland would become a territory of the United States, fulfilling Trump’s long-held wish.
‘Greenland is a beautiful place. We need it for international security, and I’m sure Denmark will join us,” Trump said.
“I think it costs them a lot of money to maintain it,” Trump said. ‘The people of Greenland are not happy with Denmark. I think they are happy with us. They can’t hold on.’
Earlier, Trump turned his rally in a downtown Washington arena into a signing ceremony as he took up his pen and issued multiple executive actions to enact major policy changes.
Trump has officially halted more than 78 Biden-era executive orders, announced a regulatory freeze that prevents bureaucrats from issuing regulations until the Trump administration has full control of the government, and a freeze on all but in the military field and a few other essential areas.
He also ordered a requirement that federal employees return to full-time in-person work, a directive for every department and agency to address the cost of living, and announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.
Trump also signed a government order that restored freedom of speech and prevented censorship of free speech, and an order that ended the “government’s weaponization of the previous administration’s political opponents.”
Some of the orders he signed first included a Biden border bill, a regulatory freeze and a freeze on federal hiring.
The setup included a small desk, chair and microphone, where Trump sat to sign off on official actions.
He flashed his signature as he signed a first set of executive orders before throwing the pens into the crowd.

Trump said he was in favor of legal immigration when he signed orders declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, suspending refugee resettlement and ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in the US .

A volunteer at a pro-migrant organization shows the updated CBP One app message advising about canceling existing appointments for migrants scheduled to enter the United States
Trump declared during his indoor parade that he will sign pardons for “many people” convicted of the attack on the US Capitol, as the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
“We won, we won, but now the work begins,” Trump said to begin his remarks at the end of the parade at the packed Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC.
The orders are signed statements about how the president wants the federal government to be run.
These may be instructions to federal agencies or requests for reports.
Many orders may be unacceptable, such as giving federal employees time off the day after Christmas.
They can also set important policies. For example, President Joe Biden signed an order to create a structure for establishing regulations on artificial intelligence.
But executive orders—and their siblings, the proclamation and the political memorandum—are also used by presidents to pursue agendas they cannot get through Congress.
New presidents can – and often do – issue orders to cancel the orders of their predecessors.
On his first day, Trump revoked 78 orders and actions signed by Biden. Trump’s revocations included a Biden order that canceled some of the orders signed by Trump during his first term.
As the American Bar Association notes, the orders do not require congressional approval and cannot be overturned directly by lawmakers. Still, Congress could prevent an order from being implemented by removing funding or creating other hurdles.