Trump’s First 3 Days Back: A Return to Chaos

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been marked by bold promises, disastrous policies, and legally questionable actions. If the first three days of his presidency are any indication, this second term is shaping up to be less about leadership and more about political theater.

First, there’s his ridiculous executive order to end birthright citizenship, which directly contradicts the 14th Amendment. The Constitution explicitly states that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" are citizens, leaving little room for debate. Legal experts immediately deemed this order unconstitutional, and an array of lawsuits have already been filed. Earlier today, it was temporarily blocked, notably by a Reagan-appointed federal judge who explained that the action was “blatantly unconstitutional” and questioned how any “member of the bar can state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order.” The larger question: did Trump even think this through, or was this yet another stunt to fire up his base?

On Day 1, Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, the conflict remains unresolved, as his administration has yet to articulate any substantive plan (nor any concept of one) for brokering peace. He also promised to overturn Biden’s so-called “electric vehicle mandate”: a policy that doesn’t actually exist. Most political analysts have labeled this a clear instance of political posturing, where Trump attacks completely fabricated or exaggerated policies to energize his base. Trump’s penchant for hollow declarations extended to military matters. He claimed he would ban critical race theory (CRT) from being taught in the military, a move that would solve a problem that doesn’t exist, given that CRT is not part of military training to begin with.

Beyond these failures, Trump’s early days have been marked by a string of legally questionable executive orders and reckless policy decisions. His pardon of over 1,000 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol Insurrection was a direct attack on accountability, signaling that loyalty to him trumps the rule of law.

In a predictable move, Trump also pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement (once again). This decision fits neatly into his “America First” rhetoric, but it can be more aptly put as “America Last” when it comes to global leadership. The U.S. now joins Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only nations not parties to the agreement. Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and instead of working toward sustainable solutions, Trump has doubled down on fossil fuel dependency. His call to "drill, baby, drill" is indicative of a refusal to confront the environmental issues that threaten not only the country but the entire planet. Abandoning international cooperation on climate change sends a clear message: short-term economic gains are more important to this administration than protecting the future.

His disdain for global collaboration doesn’t stop there. Trump also announced that the U.S. would be pulling out of the World Health Organization (WHO), an agency critical for global pandemic response and health initiatives. The U.S. now joins Liechtenstein as the only two UN member states not part of the WHO. This move feels not only short-sighted but also vindictive, considering his history of blaming the WHO for COVID-19’s spread. In an era when global cooperation is absolutely crucial, this decision will only isolate the U.S. further on the world stage.

On the domestic front, his scrapping of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies was another example of regression. This decision undermines years of progress and reflects an obvious disregard for marginalized communities. Striving toward “color-blindness,” as Trump emphasized during his inaugural address, ignores systemic racism, erases individual experiences, and prevents meaningful action toward equality and justice.

Even beyond the policies, Trump’s governing style is exhausting. His executive orders are rushed, poorly written, and often legally questionable. It’s clear he’s more interested in putting on a show than actually addressing the nation’s pressing challenges. If these first three days are any indication, we’re in for another term defined by chaos, shortcuts, and self-serving decisions. His policies continue to prioritize spectacle over strategy and division over progress. Ultimately, Trump’s early actions are more than just poor and faulty leadership: they’re a warning sign.

When a man with no respect for the Constitution takes the White House again.