As newly-inaugurated president Donald Trump signs in executive orders, American’s react to the policies coming in with the 47th President and his inauguration speech.
President Trump is allegedly preparing to sign in close to 100 executive orders.
On The Hard Shoulder, Newstalk political correspondent Seán Defoe, who is reporting from Washington DC, said thousands of Trump fans milling around DC last night.
“There were thousands of Trump fans just milling around DC sort of directionless because there was nowhere, no focal point to go to, like the Capitol building,” he said.
Seán said Trump “completely let loose of the reigns” at a rally after his inauguration in the Capital One arena.
“That's where we got some of the biggest headlines, where he started signing the executive orders,” he said.
“There's so much in all of these executive orders that even the US stations here are not staying on any item for longer than four or five minutes and then moving on because there's just so much to talk to and so much significance.
“The CNNs, the more liberal media, is talking about the international elements of it, of what's going to happen in Ukraine, what's going to happen in Panama and Mexico, etc., whereas the Fox New [type outlets] are talking about the end of wokeism.
“That's the sort of big headline that they were going with this morning, talking about how Trump is so much more accessible as a president.”
President Donald Trump, left, holds a sabre after using it to cut a cake, as Vice President JD Vance looks on. Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)Seán said after the rally, Trump headed to the White House and spent a few hours signing executive orders surrounded by press.
“He spent an hour signing them in the desk surrounded by press and just fielding questions off the hook from them, which is very different from the Biden administration,” he said.
“He is striking a different tone of being more open with the press - what he's saying may not be right, it may not be the truth, but he is talking to them more and putting his message across much more firmly.”
While the crowd around Washington at the moment is a pro-Trump crowd and a pro-Republican crowd, according to Seán, they don’t all agree with Trump’s policies.
“I think we need, like, a moratorium, just like 10 years, like we're full, let's acclimate the people here, maybe deport the people who've committed crimes and don't need to be here,” one man said.
“Then once that's done, like, maybe look at reopening and letting people come in.
“I don't know what exactly those criteria would be [but] that's something I definitely agree with him on.”
This man said that he doesn’t agree with some of Trump’s stances on guns and foreign policy.
“I am very, very, very pro-gun and he said some things about supporting red flag laws and that kind of thing that I definitely disagree with, so I would probably disagree with him there,” he said.
Red flag laws allow loved ones or law enforcement to petition a court for an order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing guns and can help to de-escalate emergency situations.
President Donald Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump. Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)“I probably would disagree with him on a lot of foreign policy stuff,” this man also said.
“I'm very non-interventionist, not isolationist, but non-interventionist [and] I don't think we should be funding Ukraine, I don't think we should be funding Israel.
“He's good on Ukraine, he's less good on Israel, but I'm like, we should bring the troops home, we should focus on America, we shouldn't be paying for the defence of Europe through NATO and a bunch of these other places.
“I mean, he gets called an isolationist, but I'm probably further to the right.”
Conor McGregor’s presence in Washington was also very well received, according to Seán.
“I actually met Conor McGregor, I was absolutely thrilled,” one woman said.
“I don't think a lot of people realised who he was but I went right up to him, I asked if I could take a selfie with him [and] he was so gracious.
“I mean, second best thing to meeting Donald Trump, Conor McGregor, for sure.”
There will be lots more reaction to come as Trump unfurls more executive order plans.
Listen back here:
President Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organisation. Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
