‘THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA BEGINS RIGHT NOW’: In stark contrast to the irresolute beginning of his first term as president eight years ago, Donald Trump has seized the reins of power in dramatic fashion, issuing a blizzard of executive orders aimed at completely remaking America, while declaring in his inaugural address that January 20, 2025, was “Liberation Day.”
“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said in his formal address, replete with soaring rhetoric. “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.’”
“It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country,” he said. “We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end and, perhaps most importantly, the wars that we never get into. My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.”
‘AN INVASION IS ONGOING’: Trump issued more than 30 first-day executive orders at a signing party at Washington’s Capital One arena, and rescinded almost 80 Biden-era orders before his first day in office was over. Among the flurry of orders issued were several aimed at what Trump identified as his top priority, taking “bold action to secure our border and protect American communities.”
The first order declared that “a national emergency exists at the southern border,” calling the influx of migrants entering the country illegally a “grave threat” and an “assault on the American people and the integrity of America’s sovereign borders.”
A separate order cites what Trump says is the legal basis for his actions, which is to protect states and the nation from outside attack. “I have determined that the current situation at the southern border qualifies as an invasion under Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States,” the order states. “The public safety and national security risks in such an environment are heightened by the presence of, and control of territory by, international cartels and other transnational criminal organizations on the other side of the southern border, as well as terrorists and other malign actors.”
“All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens to the places from which they came,” Trump said.
TROOPS TO THE BORDER, FACILITIES ‘TO DETAIN REMOVABLE ALIENS’: In yet another executive order, Trump argued the use of federal troops on the border is justified because of the U.S. military’s “long and well-established role in securing our borders against threats of invasion, against unlawful forays by foreign nationals into the United States, and against other transnational criminal activities.”
“I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” Trump said. “Under the orders I signed today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.”
The order, titled “Clarifying the military’s role in protecting the territorial integrity of the United States,” gave the U.S. Northern Command ten days to deliver a plan to “seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States by repelling forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities.”
Another order directed the Homeland Security Secretary to “allocate all legally available resources or establish contracts to construct, operate, control, or use facilities to detain removable aliens.” Trump’s pick to head DHS, Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) easily advanced on a 13-2 vote last night and is expected to win quick approval this week.
“We’re going to start securing the border, Day One. We’re going to start deportation operation, Day One,” Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar” told Fox News host Sean Hannity Sunday night. “President Trump is going to secure the border at the highest level. He’s going to beat the last time. We’re going to finish the job, right? Secure borders save lives. When you secure the border, less fentanyl comes across to kill Americans.”
TRUMP SIGNS STACKS OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS GETTING HOLD OF BORDER ON DAY ONE
Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie (@chriswtremo). Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or X @jamiejmcintyre.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE
HAPPENING TODAY: END OF FEDERAL TELEWORK: Tens of thousands of federal workers, including a large number of U.S. military and civilian DOD workers are waking up to the harsh reality that their days of being able to work remotely from home for a portion of their workweek is coming to an end.
Many watched last night as Trump signed his executive orders, and he was handed the one that would seal their fate: “Sir, the next item, as you announced in your speech, is a requirement that federal workers return to full-time, in-person work immediately.”
Trump also ordered a freeze on all federal hiring, with the exception of the military, “until full control of the government is achieved.” He also outlined new hiring practices that “prioritize recruitment of individuals committed to improving the efficiency of the federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution” while also prohibiting “the hiring of individuals based on their race, sex, or religion, and prevent the hiring of individuals who are unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve the executive branch.”
It’s unclear when telework, which was ushered in during the pandemic, will end for federal workers, but the order says “immediately.”
TRUMP SIGNS FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN PARTY-LIKE ATMOSPHERE AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA
WHO’S IN CHARGE? While Marco Rubio was confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of State last night on a unanimous bipartisan 99-to-0 vote, Trump’s more controversial pick for defense secretary is not expected to get a vote until Thursday.
Former Fox News Host Pete Hegseth’s nomination did make it out of committee last night on a straight party-line vote. All 14 Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee voted for Hegseth, while all 13 Democrats voted against him. Nevertheless, Hegseth is expected to be confirmed given that Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and no Republican has said publicly that they will oppose him.
Meanwhile, Trump named retired Marine Robert Salesses, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Service, as acting defense secretary and three other career Pentagon civilians to serve as acting secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Mark Averill, administrative assistant to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, to be the acting Army secretary; Terence Emmert, principal deputy chief technology officer for mission capabilities, to be acting Navy secretary; and Gary Ashworth, who had been filling is assistant secretary for acquisition, to be the acting Air Force secretary
WHY REPUBLICANS RALLIED AROUND TRUMP’S ‘UNCONVENTIONAL’ DEFENSE SECRETARY PICK
TRUMP’S TIKTOK REPRIEVE: One of Trump’s executive orders gave the Chinese-controlled TikTok video-sharing app a 75 day reprieve, blocking enforcement of a ban passed by a wide bipartisan margin in Congress and upheld by a rare unanimous 9-to-0 Supreme Court decision.
“The unfortunate timing of section 2(a) of the Act — one day before I took office as the 47th President of the United States — interferes with my ability to assess the national security and foreign policy implications of the Act’s prohibitions before they take effect,” Trump said in his order. “Accordingly, I am instructing the Attorney General not to take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward.”
“I intend to consult with my advisors, including the heads of relevant departments and agencies on the national security concerns posed by TikTok, and to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans,” he said.
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO KEEP TIKTOK UP FOR 75 DAYS
AS PROMISED, TRUMP PARDONS JAN. SIXERS: In an expansive and unprecedented use of his pardon power President Donald Trump pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases against all of the more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, including those convicted of assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.
In addition to commuting the sentences of 14 members from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia, most of whom were convicted of seditious conspiracy, Trump issued a “full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” and further directed his attorney general to pursue dismissal with prejudice to the government of all pending indictments.” There are about 450 cases outstanding.
Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, who was serving a 22-year term, was released from a Louisiana prison last night.
Trump said he would consider pardons on a case-by-case basis. However, his decision to pardon everyone for everything reflects his long-held belief that the 2020 election was stolen from him and his violent supporters were merely fighting for democracy.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES MASS CLEMENCY FOR ALL JAN. 6 DEFENDANTS
BIDEN PARDON FAMILY, MILLEY, FAUCI AND THE JAN, 6 COMMITTEE: Before leaving office, President Joe Biden wielded his pardon power in a sweeping and also unprecedented way, granting “preemptive” pardons to family members, political allies, and his former joint chiefs chairman — anyone he believed could be the target of vengeance by the Trump justice department.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” he said in a statement.
Biden pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, most of whom never requested a pardon. Milley, who Bob Woodward quoted as calling Trump a “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country” expressed gratitude in a statement provided to media outlets.
“After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” Milley said, according to CNN. “I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.”
Trump took aim at Milley, as well as former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — the two Republicans on the Jan. 6 Committee — in remarks after his swearing-in. “Why are we trying to help a guy like Milley? Why are we doing Milley? He was pardoned. What he said —terrible, what he said,” Trump said. “Why are we helping Liz Cheney? I mean, Liz Cheney is a disaster. She’s a crying lunatic, and crying — crying Adam Kinzinger. He’s a super-crier. I never saw the guy not cry. He’s always crying.”
“He was actually on my side, and then one day, you know, when you don’t want to kill people in wars, they turn against you,” Trump said. “Liz Cheney hated the concept of not going to war with everybody. ‘Let’s kill everybody. Let’s spend a lot of money on military equipment.’”
“Look, I mean, this is just what we’re going to expect for four years. It’s just childish, right? We literally did our job, and we embarrassed him. We showed that for 187 minutes, he sat on his butt while his people tried to overthrow the government, and that embarrassed him, you know?” Kinzinger said on CNN. “The idea of saying that, you know, we’re out there begging for a war — I mean, I’m a veteran, for God’s sakes. I, you know, I’m in the military, for God’s sakes. That’s a silly, silly accusation. But that’s what he does. I mean, again, it’s going to be four years of making up stuff, exaggerating and punching down.”
PENTAGON TAKES DOWN MARK MILLEY PORTRAIT 10 DAYS AFTER UNVEILING
CAN YOU REJECT A PARDON? Many Democrats opposed preemptive pardons for the Jan. 6 Committee members, arguing that it would set a bad precedent for every outgoing president to pardon anyone who might be involved in wrongdoing and create an impression that the person pardoned is guilty of something.
But while Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger both said they didn’t want to be pardoned, in part because of the “speech and debate clause” that protects members of Congress for what they say as part of their official comments, it not clear if a pardon can be refused.
“I’m trying to connect up with a lawyer to figure out whether you accept or reject a pardon. Because one interpretation I found from some cases is that a pardon is like an executive order or a legislative enactment. It’s just public law,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) on MSNBC. I’m going to try to figure that out and figure out what to do. You know, I have felt, as I’ve said for many weeks about this now, that we are safe with the speech and debate clause, which protects us against both federal and state criminal prosecution as well as civil lawsuits.”
HERE ARE THE LINKS TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS TRUMP SIGNED LAST NIGHT:
- Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion
- Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness
- Granting Pardons And Commutation Of Sentences For Certain Offenses Relating To The Events At Or Near The United States Capitol On January 6, 2021
- Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within The Federal Workforce
- Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border Of The United States
- Clarifying The Military’s Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity Of The United States
- Unleashing American Energy
- Protecting The Meaning And Value Of American Citizenship
- Restoring the Death Penalty And Protecting Public Safety
- Declaring A National Energy Emergency
- Reevaluating And Realigning United States Foreign Aid
- Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential
- America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State
- Establishing And Implementing The President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency”
- Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government
- Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing
- Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service
- Holding Former Government Officials Accountable For Election Interference And Improper Disclosure Of Sensitive Governmental Information
- Realigning The United States Refugee Admissions Program
- Securing Our Borders
- Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok
- Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization
- Protecting The American People Against Invasion
- Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats
- Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists
- Memorandum to Resolve the Backlog of Security Clearances for Executive Office of the President Personnel
- The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal)
- America First Trade Policy
- Putting People over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California
- Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees
- Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture
- Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives
- Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Rubio confirmed as secretary of state on Day One of Trump second term
Washington Examiner: Senate Armed Services Committee advances Hegseth nomination to lead Pentagon
Washington Examiner: Robert Salesses picked as acting defense secretary before Pete Hegseth gets confirmed
Washington Examiner: Pentagon takes down Mark Milley portrait 10 days after unveiling
Washington Examiner: Biden issues preemptive pardons for Fauci and Jan. 6 committee members
Washington Examiner: China skeptical of Trump’s joint-ownership TikTok proposal
Washington Examiner: Trump’s effort to save TikTok tees off dispute with China hawks
Washington Examiner: Three female Israeli hostages released with Hamas gift bags
Washington Examiner: House Foreign Affairs Committee looks to cut ‘radical’ spending in State Department
Washington Examiner: CBP One app that let migrants fly into US shut down as Trump takes office
Washington Examiner: Border Patrol agent fatally shot in Vermont amid Trump inauguration: Report
Washington Examiner: Trump’s strong hint of coming CIA covert action against Mexican drug cartels
Washington Examiner: Trump signs first executive orders in party-like atmosphere at Capital One Arena
Washington Examiner: Trump withdraws from the Paris Climate agreement… again
Washington Examiner: Musk draws controversy for gesture at Capital One rally
Washington Examiner: Trump comments on Biden’s pardons for Fauci and January 6 committee
Washington Examiner: Laken Riley Act passes Senate, handing Trump first legislative victory
Washington Post: Officials say undersea cable damage was accidental, not Russian sabotage
Washington Post: Dozens of State Dept. diplomats resign upon direction from Trump team
Washington Post: What the North Koreans took into battle against Ukraine
The Hill: Joint Chiefs Chair Says He Plans to Stay on Under Trump
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Former Space Force Officer Tapped to Be New Air Force Undersecretary
Air & Space Forces Magazine: ‘Same Threats’ Drive Air Force, Marines to Different Visions of Future War. How Will They Work Together?
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Experts: Troop Pay Report Is a Big Step Forward. Now They Want Policy Changes
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Blue Origin, SpaceX Test Massive New Rockets; Space Force Watches with Interest
THE CALENDAR:
TUESDAY | JANUARY 21
8:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments virtual discussion of a new report: “Focused Force: China Military Challenge and Australia Response,” with co-author Toshi Yoshihara, CSBA senior fellow; co-author Casey Nicastro, CSBA analyst; and former Royal Australian Navy Rear Adm. Lee Goddard https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register
10 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen — Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on the nomination of Douglas Collins to be veterans affairs secretary http://veterans.senate.gov
10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies releases a policy paper: “A Call for a New NSC-68 and Goldwater-Nichols Reform,” with retired Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley; retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem; and Richard Andres, professor of national security strategy at the National War College https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/a-call-for-a-new-nsc-68
12 p.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Georgian Democracy and Russian Influence,” with former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/president-salome-zourabichvil
12 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual book discussion: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine, with author Scott Horton, director of the Libertarian Institute https://quincyinst.org/events/book-talk-provoked-how-washington-started-the-new-cold-war
WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 22
9:30 a.m. — Wilson Center Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition discussion: “Strategic Competition in the Second Trump Administration,” with Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States; Shihoko Goto, director of the Wilson Center Indo-Pacific Center; Merissa Khurma, director of the Wilson Center Middle East Program; and Jennifer Wistrand, deputy director of the Wilson Center Kennan Institute https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/strategic-competition-second-trump-administration
9:30 a.m. — Henry L. Stimson Center virtual discussion: “Naval Competition in the Indian Ocean Region,” with Rizwana Abbasi, associate professor at Islamabad National University of Modern Languages; retired Rear Adm. Monty Khanna; Christopher Clary, associate professor of political science at the University at Albany and nonresident senior fellow at the Stimson Center; Brian Finlay, Stimson Center president and CEO; and Zeba Fazli, research analyst at the Stimson Center www.stimson.org/event/naval-competition-in-the-indian-ocean-region/
10 a.m. 608 Dirksen — Senate Budget Committee hearing on the nomination of Russell Vought to be director of the Office of Management and Budget. http://budget.senate.gov
10 a.m. 2141 Rayburn — House Judiciary Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee hearing on “Restoring Immigration Enforcement in America.” http://judiciary.house.gov
10 a.m. 253 Russell — Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee markup to vote on the nomination of former Rep. Sean Patrick Duffy (R-WI) to be Transportation secretary http://commerce.senate.gov
11 a.m. — Arab Center of Washington, D.C. virtual discussion: “The Gaza Ceasefire Deal and the Trump Administration: Politics, Prospects, and Implications.” https://arabcenterdc.org/event/the-gaza-ceasefire-deal-and-the-trump-administration
11 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “What Next for the Korean Peninsula Under Trump 2.0?” with Sydney Seiler, CSIS Korea chair; and Ellen Kim, CSIS Korea chair https://www.csis.org/events/impossible-state-live-podcast-whats-next-korean-peninsula
THURSDAY | JANUARY 23
8 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Virginia — Potomac Officers Club 2025 Defense R&D Summit with Gil Herrera, director of research at the National Security Agency: Ronzelle Green, director of research at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and Maj. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, special assistant to the chief of space operations at U.S. Space Force https://potomacofficersclub.com/events/2025-defense-rd-summit/
FRIDAY | JANUARY 24
9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave, NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies debate: “Artificial Intelligence Integration in Nuclear Command, Control and Communications,” with Paul Scharre, executive vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security; and Chris Andrews, fellow at National Defense University https://www.csis.org/events/poni-live-debate-ai-integration-nc3
9 a.m. 418 Russell — Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee markup to vote on the nomination of Douglas Collins to be veterans affairs secretary http://veterans.senate.gov
2: 30 p.m. — National Press Club “NPC Headliners” virtual book discussion: A Different Russia: Khrushchev and Kennedy on a Collision Course,” with Marvin Kalb, former correspondent for CBS News https://www.press.org/events/npc-headliners-marvin-kalb
WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 297:15 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army “Coffee Series” discussion with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George