Share and Follow

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — President Trump is wasting no time setting the tone for his second term in office. He signed countless executive orders, memorandums and proclamations his first day in charge.
It’s a sweeping list including topics of immigration, energy and rescinding several of former President Joe Biden’s executive orders. Trump pardoned hundreds for their roles in the Jan. 6 capitol attack, extended the timeline on the law that would ban TikTok and pulled the country out of the World Health Organization.
Compared to the first day of his 2017 term, Brian Gaines, University of Illinois political science professor, said it appears that Trump is better equipped to fulfill his promises this time around. But that isn’t necessarily true for the rest of his presidency.
“He had trouble with the transition in his first term because he’s not much of a historian, he didn’t know things [like] how you get executive orders drafted,” Gaines said. “He had a lot of trouble getting the kind of help you need writing them, so he’s more prepared this time. I don’t necessarily think that’s the story going forward, that he’ll be more prepared in every respect.”
He said some of Trump’s plans during his second term might be harder to get done than he expects. For example, his executive order to end the constitutional right to birthright freedom already has attorneys general from multiple states suing to try and block the move.