Trump's first moves

A summary of Episode 1:

In the first episode of IR Unfiltered, we covered what President Trump has done in just his first few weeks back in office.

Let’s start with TikTok.

Instead of banning the app like he pushed for during his first term, Trump has decided to delay the move for 75 days. This gives his team time to review the situation. Also, it probably doesn’t hurt that he’s gained quite a following on the app lately.

Next, the Paris Climate Agreement.

Trump has officially pulled the United States out, again. Biden had rejoined it back in 2021, but Trump is sticking to his usual focus on domestic priorities over international climate goals.

He’s also starting the process to leave the World Health Organisation.

This will take a year to fully go through, but funding has already been cut. Trump has been critical of the WHO since COVID-19, so this move doesn’t come as a surprise.

Now for something more symbolic.

Trump signed an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. He also wants Mount Denali to go back to being called Mount McKinley. He says these changes reflect a return to American tradition and values.

On immigration, things are getting stricter.

He’s suspended the refugee resettlement program. Refugees will now only be considered on a case-by-case basis, and only if it fits with national interests. Human rights groups are already raising red flags about what this could mean for vulnerable people.

And finally, foreign aid.

All new aid programs have been frozen for 90 days. The idea is to make sure U.S. money is being spent in ways that match foreign policy goals. But the pause is already affecting agencies and programs, especially those working internationally.

So that’s the roundup. Whether it’s climate policy, immigration, or foreign aid, Trump is making it clear that his second term is going to look a lot like the first. Make sure to stay tuned to future episodes to keep track of this news.