First pardoned Jan. 6 rioters released in DC
Two Pennsylvania brothers arrested for their role in the riots were released.
President Donald Trump returned from a campaign-style rally at a Washington, D.C., arena to the White House to sign more executive orders, including a sweeping one that pardoned those convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Earlier after taking the oath of office and events at the Capitol, Trump spoke to a roaring crowd at Capital One Arena, where he also signed several executive orders.
After he is through signing the orders, Trump will attend inaugural balls tonight.
Key Headlines
- 2nd federal lawsuit challenges birthright citizenship executive order
- First pardoned Jan. 6 rioters released from DC detention facility: DOJ
- Trump says he will enact tariffs on Canada, Mexico on Feb. 1
- Former Proud Boys leader serving 22 years being processed for release: Lawyer
- Trump discovers letter from Biden in Oval Office desk
Trump withdraws US from World Health Organization
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, which is a United Nations agency that works with government entities and other partners to improve the health of people and communities worldwide. As of Jan. 19, it had 124 member states, including the U.S.
The United States originally joined WHO in 1948. Trump withdrew the nation's participation during his first term, in 2020, and it was reinstated by former President Joe Biden in 2021.
On the WHO's website, as of Monday evening, it says, "The United States of America plays a crucial role in supporting WHO to protect and improve the health of Americans and people around the world."
Trump suggested that the cost of involvement was too high for the U.S., saying that it had paid $500 million to support the organization, while China only pays $39 million.
"China pays 39 million, and we pay 500 million, and China's a bigger country," he said, adding that it seemed "a little unfair."
Implying that further negotiations might be possible, Trump said, "They wanted us back so badly, so we'll see what happens."
Trump informally takes questions between signing orders
While signing the executive orders in the Oval Office, Trump casually took questions from reporters on topics ranging from the war between Russia and Ukraine -- saying he plans to talk with President Vladimir Putin "soon" -- to TikTok to Biden's last-minute pardons for the former president's family members.
"I guess now I have precedent to do it," Trump said. "I wouldn't want to do that. No, I think it makes you look very guilty."
At one point he asked if Biden ever did news conferences like this.
"None, zero," Trump said.
Trump addresses the future of Israel-Hamas ceasefire and Gaza
The day after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect, President Trump addressed the future of Gaza after over 15 months of war.
Trump said that he's "not confident" that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would stay in effect. "I'm not confident. That's not our war. It's their war," Trump said.
Additionally, the president said Gaza "has to be rebuilt in a different way."
"Gaza is interesting, it's a phenomenal location. On the sea -- The best weather. Some beautiful things could be done with it," Trump said.
Trump says he will enact tariffs on Canada, Mexico on Feb. 1
In the weeks after winning the election in November, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that imposing tariffs would be one of his first acts as president.
"On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States," he wrote.
However, he opted not to include tariffs as one of his top priorities. Instead, during his inauguration speech, he announced the creation of an External Revenue Service that would be in charge of collecting tariffs and other revenue from foreign nations.
Then, later in the evening, he expressed that his administration was "thinking in terms" of imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1.
While he has also previously mentioned imposing tariffs on China, he did not mention it during his remarks in the Oval Office on Monday.