By ZEKE MILLER and MICHELLE L. PRICE The Associated Press
Washington (AP) On Tuesday, his first full day in office, President Donald Trump defended his decision to grant clemency to those convicted of assaulting police officers during the 2021 Capitol attack. He also hinted that the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, extremist groups whose leaders were found guilty of seditious conspiracy against the United States, might find a place in American politics.
As he granted reprieve to all 1,500+ people charged in the insurgency that began after he refused to accept his loss in the 2020 presidential election, Trump used his first hours in office to clear the records of more than 200 people who pleaded guilty to assaulting officers at the Capitol siege on January 6, 2021, and free from prison those convicted of trying to overthrow the government. Trump’s supporters attempted to overturn Trump’s 2020 electoral loss to former President Joe Biden, resulting in at least 140 cops being hurt, many of them punched, wounded, and crushed by the throng.
When Trump famously instructed the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” at his first debate with then-Presidential candidate Biden in 2020, the group was most known for street fights with anti-fascist activists prior to the Capitol attack.
After the 2020 election, Enrique Tarrio, the group’s former top commander, and three of his lieutenants were found guilty of seditious conspiracy for a violent plot to thwart the peaceful transition of power from Trump to Biden. Before Trump pardoned Tarrio on Monday, he was serving the longest jail sentence of any Capitol riot case—22 years. As Trump was sworn in for a second term on Monday, some members of the group marched in Washington.
Trump responded, “Well, we have to see,” in response to a reporter’s question concerning the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and if they had a place in politics. A pardon has been granted to them. Their statements struck me as exaggerated and absurd.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “We’re back,” while highlighting an investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
He stated, “I believe we’re going to do things that people will be shocked at.”
Trump said, “I am a friend of police, more than any president who’s ever been in this office,” in response to questions over his choice to release inmates who had been captured on tape savagely abusing Capitol police officers.
“These are people who genuinely love our country, so we thought a pardon would be appropriate,” the president remarked on Tuesday, expressing his opinion that the terms imposed for the acts of that day were absurd and harsh.
In a joint statement, the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, two significant law enforcement organizations, expressed their dismay at the pardons and commutations and their belief that those found guilty should be given their entire terms.
The president was also questioned about whether he would continue to sell goods to enrich himself while in office and how his personal wealth had increased as a result of the introduction of a new cryptocurrency token the day before he was sworn in.
Other than the fact that I launched it, I don’t know anything about it,” he stated. I’d heard it was a huge hit. I haven’t looked it over. Today, where is it?
Trump began his first full day in office by exemplifying one of his preferred methods of exercising power: terminating employees.
Early on Tuesday, the new president announced on his Truth social media network that he will dismiss over 1,000 presidential appointees—including some well-known figures—who do not share our vision.
Trump dismissed former State Department official Brian Hook from the Wilson Center board, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council, chef and humanitarian Jos Andrs from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, and retired General Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
YOU’RE FIRED! Trump used his slogan from The Apprentice, his reality TV program, in his message.
In social media posts, Andrs and Bottoms denied Trump’s claim that they were fired, stating that they had previously resigned.
In his first days in office, Biden also ousted a number of Trump appointees, such as Sean Spicer, the former press secretary, from the board that oversaw the U.S. Naval Academy.
According to the White House, Trump joined three prominent business leaders on Tuesday afternoon to announce the formation of a new company called Stargate, which would invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure over the next four years. These leaders are Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison, SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Stargate was first planned during Biden’s administration and is currently under construction in Texas. The Information, a tech news outlet, covered the project in March 2024.
Trump concluded four days of inauguration-related ceremonies Tuesday morning by attending a national prayer session at the Washington National Cathedral, which is a traditional visit for new presidents.
The Episcopal bishop of Washington and one of the speakers at the interfaith service, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, used her sermon to urge Trump to show empathy for illegal migrant workers and LGBTQ+ individuals.
A loving God’s providential hand has been felt by you. Budde, who has previously attacked Trump, said, “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now.”
When a reporter questioned Trump about the service later, he responded, “It wasn’t very exciting.” It was not an excellent service, in my opinion. They’re capable of much more.
The president met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other Republican lawmakers later that day. As they determine how best to wield Republican authority in Washington, it was the first official meeting of the GOP leadership teams, which include the new president, Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
According to a person with knowledge of the private meeting who asked to remain anonymous, it was more of a date than a marriage.
Trump offered other suggestions for future goals, including tax reduction, disaster assistance, regulatory changes, and the approaching March deadline for federal funding. He made no explicit preference for any of these approaches, simply that they accomplish the task at hand. James Braid and Stephen Miller, policy aides, joined the discussion.
Commemorative coins and chocolate chip cookies were presented to the GOP leaders.
Following the meeting, Senate Republicans threatened to appoint Trump’s Cabinet during recess. Thune advocated for a speedy confirmation, but Trump has insisted that Republicans get ready to adjourn the Senate so that he can name his candidates to Cabinet positions without Senate approval.
Trump speculated on Tuesday that because Los Angeles will require a significant amount of funding, the flames there might provide Republicans leverage with Democrats during budget negotiations. Additionally, I believe that many Democrats will be requesting assistance in general.
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This report was written by Lisa Mascaro, Will Weissert, Darlene Superville, Josh Boak, and Tiffany Stanley of the Associated Press in Washington, Jill Colvin in New York, and Kate Brumback in Atlanta.
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