Oh Lord… Here’s Trump’s Scariest Executive Orders yet, and They’re Worst Than You Can Imagine

On his first day back, the president signed a historic amount of executive orders, and he hasn't let up!

With President Donald J. Trump back in the White House, he got straight to business cranking out 26 executive orders, 12 memoranda, and 4 proclamations on his first day. We’re now over 70 days in his second term, and Trump has quadrupled that amount to 103 orders... sheesh.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

Many of them, like Trump’s pardoning of all Capitol rioters’ crimes, sent major alerts around the country, but there are others that Americans haven’t been paying attention to... and they should be. Here’s everything you need to know about the most outrageous orders and proclamations signed by the 47th president of the United States so far.

Targeting the Smithsonian

Photo: Getty Images Anna Moneymaker

In an executive order, Trump said the (MAAHC) located in Washington D.C. is “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.” Because of this, Trump wants to end funding to the African American Museum as well as other Smithsonian museums honoring the expansive history of the nation. This means the fate of Black history and culture is up in the air. When you target the Smithsonian, a global organization operating in a public-private partnership, you can expect immediate backlash. So far, several politicians, historians, and activists have denounced the administration’s attempt to regulate the Smithsonian.

Rolling Back Segregation Protections

Photo: Getty Images Andrew Harnik

Talks of Jim Crow and segregation’s return has the country buzzing with disbelief after President Donald Trump’s administration repealed a crucial “segregation clause” in a February memo. And while many are scared for the future of the nation, others are urging Black folks not to take Trump’s bait. As The Root previously reported, the memo doesn’t explicitly make segregation legal at the federal, but it sure as hell doesn’t make it illegal.

Rescinding Biden’s Executive Orders

Photo: Getty Images Chip Somodevilla

Not only did Trump sign his own orders, but he most shockingly canceled out a whopping 78 executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden’s administration. The majority of these orders, according to the White House, attack DEI, climate change and green energy, and COVID-19 assistance.

Renaming the Gulf of Mexico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afyHJA5gazU

Right before Trump returned to office, he promised to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. In an executive order, he did just that! According to the White House, “It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes.”

Not only that, but Trump also is renaming the tallest mountain in the country, Denali, back to its original name honoring former President McKinley.

Terminating DEI

Photo: Getty Images Win McNamee

We all knew this one was coming... Trump signed an order to end diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) programs in federal departments and agencies. His order also details plans to compile a list targeting all federal contractors and grantees with DEI programs, according to the White House.

Freeze on Hiring Civilians

Photo: Getty Images Jim Lo Scalzo

In an executive order, the president put a pause on hiring federal civilian employees. This means, if you’re waiting to hear back about a government job... you’ll be waiting for awhile. According to the White House, the freeze began on Jan. 20, 2025 and is expected to continue for at least 90 days.

Recognizing Only Two Genders

Photo: Getty Images Jim Lo Scalzo

Trump has officially directed all federal agencies to only recognize two genders, male and female, which are not changeable. According to the White House, this executive order will be reflected on government documents like passports, visas, Global Entry cards, and federal personnel records. This also rescinded Biden’s transgender rights efforts.

Withdrawing From WHO

Photo: Getty Images Michael M. Santiago

During the pandemic, Trump expressed his repeated frustration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and disappointment with their handling of COVID-19. Now, according to the White House, Trump is back with a vengeance and wants to completely withdraw the country from WHO.

The order won’t take affect for a full year, according to NPR, but in response to Trump, Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University and director of WHO’s Center on Global Health Law, said “This is the most cataclysmic decision.” He continued saying “[This is] a grave wound to American national interests and our national security.”

Calling for the End of Birthright Citizenship

Photo: Getty Images Andrew Harnik

In a proclamation announced yesterday, Trump is calling for the federal government to not grant U.S. citizenship for people born in the U.S. but have parents who aren’t citizens or permanent residents— also known as birthright citizenship. According to the White House, the proclamation will take effect 30 days from Jan. 20, 2025, for individuals born on or after that date. Critics of Trump’s order say it directly contradicts the Constitution, which protects birthright citizenship.

Pardoning Capitol Insurrectionists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iludfj6Pe7w

Trump celebrated his second term doing exactly what he promised he would do. Among a series of executive orders signed by the president, Trump most notably either pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or vowed to dismiss the cases of all roughly 1,500 people charged with crimes connected to the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, according to the White House.

Enacting Mass Deportations

Photo: Getty Images Ethan Miller

It seems the president is making good of yet another one of his controversial campaign promises to perform mass deportations of undocumented immigrants across the nation. According to his executive order, Trump has enlisted “all available resources and authorities” to help detain unlawful immigrants and further secure the Mexico-U.S. border.

Stricter Laws for Asylum Seekers

Photo: Getty Images Julia Demaree Nikhinson

...And on the topic of immigration, Trump also ordered the halt of entry by migrant asylum seekers who don’t provide sufficient medical information. Additionally, Trump’s order requires asylum seekers to provide reliable criminal histories and background information to enter the country.

Restoring the Death Penalty

Photo: Getty Images Ron Sachs

Trump signed an execution order directing the attorney general to “take all necessary and lawful action” to make sure states have enough lethal injection drugs to carry out executions, according to the White House. This comes just weeks after Biden commuted 37 of the 40 total federal death row inmates’ sentences to life in prison. Trump cited Biden’s executive order, calling the former president’s actions “a mockery of justice and [an] insult the victims of these horrible crimes.”

Denying Funding to Sanctuary Cities

Photo: Getty Images CHANDAN KHANNA

In addition to enacting mass deportations, another executive order completely revokes Biden immigration orders on asylum processing and family reunification. According to the White House, Trump also plans to construct new detention facilities and even suggests denying federal funding to sanctuary cities.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Steve Harvey's Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry

Steve Harvey’s Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry

With a 70,000 gallon infinity pool to a home theater and wine cellar, Steve Harvey's mansion is one of the most expensive properties in Atlanta, Ga ...
The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

From Brian Tyree Henry getting down and dirty to David Oyelowo searching for a fresh start: we've got what you need to watch! ...

How Tina Knowles Schooled Folks Hating on Beyoncé For Singing the National Anthem on Tour

How Tina Knowles Schooled Folks Hating on Beyoncé For Singing the National Anthem on Tour

Clips of Beyonce performing the song has gone viral, prompting folks to question why she'd choose to sing it in the first place. But Miss Tina has had enough! ...
What's Happening to Diddy's Fortune? Here's What We Know

What’s Happening to Diddy’s Fortune? Here’s What We Know

He was once on the way to billionaire status. Now, Diddy's net worth and his reputation has taken a drop ...
Gary Coleman's Ex-Wife Finally Takes Lie Detector Test About His Death, and the Results Are Spooky

Gary Coleman’s Ex-Wife Finally Takes Lie Detector Test About His Death, and the Results Are Spooky

Coleman married Shannon Price in 2007 and divorced one year later. Two years after that, he suffered a fatal fall and Price was the only witness ...
How Tyler Perry's Name Was Dropped in Yet Another Sexual Misconduct Claim By One of His Actors

How Tyler Perry’s Name Was Dropped in Yet Another Sexual Misconduct Claim By One of His Actors

Braxton Wells accused the studios' senior vice president of scripted programming of grooming and rape...but that's not all ...
Here's Why Y'all Need to Stop Calling Beyoncé 'Old'

Here’s Why Y’all Need to Stop Calling Beyoncé ‘Old’

Beyoncé is many things. But too old to perform is not one of them....especially in a musical market with many aging men ...
Is NeNe Leakes Plotting the Ultimate 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Comeback? Here's the Pipin' Hot Tea...

Is NeNe Leakes Plotting the Ultimate ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Comeback? Here’s the Pipin’ Hot Tea…

The veteran peach-holder spoke about returning to the Atlanta reality show after leaving in 2020 ...
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Went Up Against 90 Homeland Security Soldiers, Here's What Happened Next

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Went Up Against 90 Homeland Security Soldiers, Here’s What Happened Next

As soon as footage of National Guard troops got back to Mayor Bass, she went down there to personally handle the situation ...
DeMarco Morgan Is Leaving 'GMA3,' and Here's Why We Should've Seen it Coming

DeMarco Morgan Is Leaving ‘GMA3,’ and Here’s Why We Should’ve Seen it Coming

While his departure may be upsetting to some fans, there may have been hints that his time on the show was winding down ...
Confederate Group Takes This Drastic Action to Shut Down a Georgia Park's Planned Slavery Exhibit

Confederate Group Takes This Drastic Action to Shut Down a Georgia Park’s Planned Slavery Exhibit

Stone Mountain Park is home of the biggest Confederate monument in America, and one group wants to keep it that way forever ...
Kidnapper Grabs Young Black Boy Before This Brazen Act of Courage Happened— And it Was All Caught on Video

Kidnapper Grabs Young Black Boy Before This Brazen Act of Courage Happened— And it Was All Caught on Video

Rah'Shem Gantt was enjoying a Coney Island outing with his family until things took a frightening turn ...
The Late Ananda Lewis' Son's Father, Who Shares a Special Connection to Will Smith, Just Shared a Touching Tribute

The Late Ananda Lewis’ Son’s Father, Who Shares a Special Connection to Will Smith, Just Shared a Touching Tribute

Harry Lewis, the father of Ananda Lewis' 14-year-old son Langston, called Lewis "the most attentive and loving mother" on Instagram ...
Tina Knowles Gives Halle Bailey Relationship Advice With Just This One Word

Tina Knowles Gives Halle Bailey Relationship Advice With Just This One Word

It's been said that the best way to get over someone is with someone else. And in case you haven't been paying attention, it looks like Halle Bailey is doing just that. Last week, we told you that photographers caught the singer-actress getting up close and personal with producer Scott ...
Hakeem Jeffries Goes Viral For Allegedly Photoshopping This Instagram Photo, But Did He Really...?

Hakeem Jeffries Goes Viral For Allegedly Photoshopping This Instagram Photo, But Did He Really…?

The House Minority Leader made headlines again following an epic speech against Trump's Big Beautiful Bill ...
OutKast's Big Boi Mourns The Death of His Uncle "Moonie" In Tragic Shooting

OutKast’s Big Boi Mourns The Death of His Uncle “Moonie” In Tragic Shooting

In a statement with WSB-TV, Big Boi shared how the death has affected his family: ...
All About Mel B's Stunning Lookalike Little Sister

All About Mel B’s Stunning Lookalike Little Sister

While there were a handful of famous faces in attendance, the main face that's slowly becoming the talk of the town is Mel B's little sister, Danielle Brown. And you've got to see why! ...
Tupac Associate Young Noble's Death Illuminates Alarming Fact About Suicide Rates Among Black Men

Tupac Associate Young Noble’s Death Illuminates Alarming Fact About Suicide Rates Among Black Men

On July 4, 2025, emcee Young Noble-- member of Outlawz and Tupac affiliate-- died of an apparent suicide ...
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Recent Dissent Proves She's Unafraid to Challenge Her Colleagues—Unlike Clarence Thomas

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Recent Dissent Proves She’s Unafraid to Challenge Her Colleagues—Unlike Clarence Thomas

Compared to Thomas, Jackson is a breath of fresh air. As one of the youngest members on the court, she often uses her platform to connect with all Americans ...
After Three Open-Heart Surgeries, This Black Father Discovered an Unusual Cure

After Three Open-Heart Surgeries, This Black Father Discovered an Unusual Cure

Donnie Seals, Sr. and his son, Eric share a transformational trip in a PBS documentary they hope will help other Black people ...