Donald Trump signs executive orders, sweeping pardons for Jan. 6 rioters; Fetterman denies party change rumors

President Donald Trump issued several orders to dramatically toughen immigration standards and enforcement within hours of taking office on Monday, declaring a national emergency at the southern border after promising earlier in the day to quickly begin deporting “millions and millions” of people.

“All illegal entry will immediately be halted,” he said in his inauguration speech. “I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to keep TikTok operating for 75 days, a relief to the social media platform’s users even as national security questions persist.

TikTok's China-based parent ByteDance was supposed to find a U.S. buyer or be banned on Jan. 19. Trump's order could give ByteDance more time to find a buyer.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat who represents parts of Philadelphia blasted Donald Trump's move to pardon virtually all Jan. 6 defendants in a statement posted on X, calling the pardons “a disgrace to our country and Constitution.”

“These thugs didn’t just break the law — they attacked the very foundation of our democracy,” Boyle said. “By pardoning them, Trump has made it abundantly clear that he stands with the violent criminals and not for the rule of law.”

Within hours of taking office Monday, President Donald Trump said he had pardoned nearly every person charged with attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — a striking, sweeping decision that will affect scores of defendants from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including some who had already been convicted of committing acts of violence while ransacking the halls of American government.

While seated in the Oval Office Monday night, Trump signed what he said were documents that would eliminate the criminal cases for “approximately 1,500 people” and commuted the sentences of six others.

Trump has signed an executive order beginning the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization.

It was the second time in less than five years that he’s ordered the country to withdraw from the organization, despite it being a move many scientists fear could roll back decades-long gains made in fighting infectious diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

In the Oval Office Monday, President Donald Trump signed what he said were full pardons for "approximately 1,500" people charged in the riot of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

According to a copy of the document posted on the White House website, Trump also commuted the sentences of 14 people convicted of various crimes related to the attack. Among them is Philly Proud Boys president Zach Rehl, who has been sentenced to 15 years.

Hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated into his second presidential term Monday, he took to the stage of the Capital One Arena and signed two executive orders on the federal workforce, appearing to initiate the beginning stages of one of his main campaign platforms.

The directives — a hiring freeze and mandating in-person work — could have a significant impact in Philadelphia, a major hub for federal workers, yet agencies’ staff are often stretched thin and have crucial telework employees.

Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) shot down rumors he plans to jump to the Republican Party after meeting with President Donald Trump.

“It’s not going to happen,” Fetterman told Semafor Monday night. “And even if I wanted to do that, that is a rocket sled to Palookaville to try to switch. I would make a pretty bad Republican.”

In front of a roaring crowd at the Capital One Arena Monday, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders, marking his first policy-based directives of his second presidential term.

His orders revolved around hiring freezes and in-person work mandates for federal workers, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, and "ending the weaponization of government against the political adversaries of the previous administration."

Trump announced he will pardon people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot, calling them “hostages” while flanked by the families of people taken hostage by Hamas as militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The jarring juxtaposition came moments after Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, introduced the relatives, some of whom are seeking the return of remains of their loves ones who were killed while held captive.

Donald Trump has taken the stage at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. where he will be signing executive orders. He signaled that he will be signing pardons for individuals who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump says he will "revoke nearly 80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration."

Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host nominated by Donald Trump to serve as the next defense secretary, was approved by the Senate Armed Service Committee along party lines Monday night, 14-13.

The vote means Hegseth's nomination will move to a full Senate vote, where Republicans hold a 53-seat majority. So far, not a single Republican has publicly said they'd vote against him.

In the upstairs of Sonoma Restaurant & Wine Bar, a few blocks from Capitol Hill, Pennsylvanians celebrated President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and their role in helping make it happen.

“Philadelphia got a lot redder and we’re very proud of that,” said Xavier Devereaux, who lives in West Philadelphia, and said he worked on the Trump campaign in the city. Devereaux was a longtime Democrat who only switched parties this year. Trump was the first Republican he’s supported for president.

First responders from Butler, Pa., participated in President Donald Trump's inaugural parade Monday, paying tribute to the life of Corey Comperatore, 50, the firefighter who was fatally shot during the assassination attempt against Trump in the western Pennsylvania town in July.

Police officers and EMTs who responded to the attempt on Trump's life over the summer paraded through the Capital One Arena Monday, before a moment of silence was held to honor Comperatore.

President Donald Trump pumped his fist as he arrived at Capital One arena in Washington D.C., where he is expected to deliver a rally-like speech and sign some executive orders. 

During his inaugural address earlier in the day, Trump signaled that he would sign many executive orders including those on immigration, the economy, energy, and government bureaucracy.

At a Pennsylvania inaugural reception held by the state’s 10 Republican members of Congress, several were quick to laud President Donald Trump and the speech he’d given a few hours before.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents the most purple of those districts held by Republicans — and the only one in the Southeastern part of the state — had a more measured review.

The Department of Government Efficiency’s first order of business was itself: It is now down to one member.

Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer serve in the nongovernmental agency alongside Elon Musk, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed Monday. Ramaswamy has signaled plans to run for governor of Ohio.

A government health website that offers birth control and emergency abortion guidance appears to have been disabled after Trump took office.

The website, reproductiverights.gov, was launched by the Biden administration in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn national abortion rights. It detailed ways in which women could obtain birth control, abortion pills and emergency abortions.

Make the Road Pennsylvania, one of the state’s largest immigrant-rights groups, said that Monday marked the beginning of a challenging four years for immigrants and working families.

“Trump’s fascist and hateful agenda requires despair to thrive, and the word ‘hopeless’ is not in our vocabulary,” the group said in a statement. “We won’t back down. The resilience of people committed to fighting against oppression and defending immigrant communities in this country has never been reliant on who is in the White House.”

Elon Musk burst onto the stage at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Monday, shouting into the microphone and declaring "this is what victory feels like" to thunderous applause.

"This was a fork in the road of human civilization... some elections are important, some are not, but this one, this really matters, and I just wanted to say thank you for making it happen."

Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump's nominee for commerce secretary and Haverford College's largest donor, celebrated Trump's suggestion to establish the "External Revenue Service," calling Monday the proposed service's "birthday."

"So if you're always wondering, 'is some bureaucrat going to cut your benefits?' Not under Donald Trump," Lutnick told the crowd at Capital One Arena Monday. "It means foreign companies are going to pay if they want to come and sell products to the wealthiest country on Earth, and if they want to compete with American workers, then let's just not tax our American workers."

To the sound of Chilean singer Ana Tijoux, about 180 people gathered at Philadelphia's City Hall to protest what they described as President Donald Trump’s racist, sexist, and xenophobic policies.

“The Democrats are not coming to save us, it’s going to have to be the working class power,” Gabby Ballard, member of the party for socialism and liberation, told the crowd. “Our struggles are connected and it’s now up to us to help each other."

Joe Biden is boarding a helicopter that will carry him into his post-presidency life — but the aircraft carrying him is no longer known as Marine One.

Since Biden is now a former president, he and his wife Jill boarded a chopper technically known as “Nighthawk 46" despite still having the presidential seal.

Moments after delivering his inaugural address, President Donald Trump stopped into Emancipation Hall, the main atrium in the Capitol Visitor’s Center, and told the overflow crowd gathered there about all the things he’d cut from his speech.

He said first lady Melania Trump urged him to keep his “beautiful speech” free from more controversial topics.

On Inauguration Day, some Philadelphians opted not to watch President Donald Trump being sworn in and instead attended a concert by immigrants and refugees.

About 200 people gathered at the Ethical Society building for a morning of music celebrating diversity and equity in the spirit of Martin Luther King, organized by HIAS Pennsylvania and BuildaBridge.

Donald J. Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States Monday, promising to reverse what he referred to as the nation’s decline and vowing that the “golden age of America begins right now.”

Inside the gilded atrium, on a frigid cold day that pushed the swearing-in ceremony indoors for the first time since 1985, Trump called Monday “liberation day,” vowing to defend the country “at a level that nobody’s ever seen before.” He stood before VIPs who got the few coveted seats inside, including his family, business executives, and members of Congress, including Sens. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) and Dave McCormick (R., Pa.).

The Trump administration Monday ended use of a border app called CBP One that has allowed nearly 1 million people to legally enter the United States with eligibility to work.

A notice on the website of Customs and Border Protection Monday just after Trump was sworn in let users know that the app that had been used to allow migrants to schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available. The notice said that existing appointments have been cancelled.

Donald Trump views his presidency as the time to “liberate our nation,” he said Monday.

“We will lead it to new heights of victory and success,” Trump said. We will not be deterred.”

Pro-immigrant advocates in the Philadelphia area have braced for a Donald Trump presidency, promising to oppose his stated plans to deport millions of undocumented people living in the United States.

“VietLead stands committed and ready with all immigrant and racial-justice groups in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and across the country,” the Vietnamese-led group said in a statement as Trump prepared to be sworn in. “Our families must remain united, our communities must remain intact.”

During his inaugural address Monday, President Donald Trump said he would change the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” a priority of his that recently made headlines. He also said he wants to change Denali, the name of a mountain in Alaska, back to Mount McKinley after 25th President William McKinley.

“President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent,” Trump said.

Supporters of President Donald Trump filled a room at the Newtown Sports and Events Center in Bucks County, sitting in white fold up chairs and watching four television screens around the room intently as Trump spoke at his inauguration.

Supporters were calm and listened closely, cheering and clapping at various points Trump made, including returning hostages from Gaza.

President Donald Trump claimed during his inaugural speech that he had “been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250 year history,” mentioning how he survived an attempt on his life during a shooting at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler, Pa., in July.

“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed, to take my life,” Trump said. “Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear, but I felt then and believed even more so now that my life was saved for a reason, I was saved by God to make America great again.”

“The golden age of America begins right now.”

Those were the first words of President Donald Trump’s inaugural speech Monday.

President-elect Donald Trump has entered the U.S. Capitol Rotunda where he is scheduled be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States — and marking the beginning of his second administration — around noon.

Preceeding Trump was Vice President-elect JD Vance, and Republican and Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Three former presidents in attendance — Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton — drew applause from the audience as they entered the Capitol Rotunda.

Two former first ladies were there, too, but Michelle Obama skipped the inauguration.

Inside the Capitol at Emancipation Hall, mayors, spouses of members of Congress, and other invited guests gathered to watch two large TV screens streaming the ceremony.

Spotted in the overflow viewing space were Republicans Govs. Mike Braun of Indiana, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Tate Reeves of Mississippi, and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, as well as Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat.

Telsa owner Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch, media magnate and creator of Fox News, took their seats in the VIP area. Podcast host Joe Rogan was also seen taking his seat near the platform.

Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook were also in the audience, along with Google’s Sundar Pichai and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.

It’s the fifth inauguration for Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, who swore in Barack Obama twice, Joe Biden once and now will stand opposite Donald Trump for a second time.

In the first inaugural ceremony for both men, in 2009, Roberts and Obama combined to flub the constitutionally prescribed oath, then met at the White House for a rare do-over — just to be safe.

Thousands of people started lining up before dawn to get into the Capital One Arena in Washington where the inaugural parade will take place and President-elect Donald Trump is expected to visit later today.

The site is the main venue for people to watch a livestream of Trump’s inaugural ceremonies after they were moved inside due to cold temperatures.

President Donald Trump is going to issue a series of orders aimed at remaking America’s immigration policies, ending asylum access, sending troops to the southern border and ending birthright citizenship, a incoming White House official said.

It’s unclear how he would carry out some of his executive orders, including ending automatic citizenship for everyone born in the country, while others were expected to be immediately challenged in the courts.

Trump will sign an executive order declaring that the federal government would recognize only two genders: male and female, an incoming White House official said Monday.

The order undoes parts of one President Joe Biden signed on his first day in office four years ago. Trump’s order could restrict access to gender-affirming medical care and sports competitions for some transgender people.

Dozens of Democrats in Congress skipped Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017. But as Politico reports, this year that number is a bit smaller.

Last time around, U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans, who represent most of Philadelphia, skipped the festivities, as did then-Reps. Mike Doyle and Bob Brady.

Philadelphia City Council will hold its first hearing Wednesday to discuss the city’s preparations for a second Trump term including protections for various communities, including immigrant and LGBTQ populations, who Trump and allies have signaled they would target once in the White House.

Councilmember Rue Landau, the first openly LGBTQ councilmember, introduced a resolution in late November, calling on Council’s Committee on Law and Government to hold the public hearings on the city’s “Trump preparedness.”

Donald Trump will take his second oath of office Monday in an inauguration stacked with events.

It marks the nation’s 60th presidential inauguration.

President Joe Biden has pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, using the extraordinary powers of his office in his final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by the incoming Trump administration.

The decision by Biden comes after Donald Trump warned of an enemies list filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss and his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump has selected Cabinet nominees who backed his election lies and who have pledged to punish those involved in efforts to investigate him.

Trump’s office has announced a mix of artists slated to perform throughout inauguration weekend. Among them are Carrie Underwood, the Village People, Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Kid Rock.

Rock, Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, and Liberty University’s Praise Choir will perform at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally on Sunday.

President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather, upending months of meticulous planning for a massive outdoor event with crowds sprawling down the National Mall.

“The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.”

President-elect Donald J. Trump, one of the most polarizing figures in modern political history, will deliver his second presidential inaugural address inside the Capitol Monday on a brutally frigid day, but one that is expected to strike a warmer tone than eight years ago.

The last time Trump was sworn in, protesters filled the streets of Washington and Democratic-controlled cities around the country. Democratic House members boycotted and the national mood was part jubilation, part shell-shocked.

As Mayor Cherelle L. Parker campaigned around Philadelphia for Democrats last fall, she never seemed too keen to say President-elect Donald Trump’s name.

When asked about the former president, Parker would often refer to Trump as “this guy,” leveling a brief criticism and quickly pivoting to say something nice about his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Several Philadelphia groups plan to counter the inauguration with local music, prayer, and protest, with some taking to the streets as President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

HIAS Pennsylvania, the immigrant support organization, said in a news release that the inauguration of the 47th president will be difficult for many, as Trump promises a raft of harsh immigration-enforcement orders, and that it intends to offer “an uplifting alternative” by presenting a live concert on Monday to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.