Trump Signs Muslim Ban 2.0 & Hundreds More Destructive EOs

Summarizing the most destructive & hypocritical of Trump's 200+ Executive Orders and what actions we can take to fight back

I still recall running legal triage at airports when Trump enacted his first Muslim ban—a racist policy designed only to create fear and discord. Now, as Trump returns to the White House, he enacts a Muslim Ban 2.0, one that is even more sophisticated in its hate and fascism. That’s just one of the 200+ Executive Orders Trump has already signed. Most all of them are regressive, discriminatory, and harmful to the safety and security of Americans. None of them bring down the price of eggs.

Below is a breakdown of some of the most damaging executive orders Trump signed, and how we can push back. Let’s Address This.

[Photo Credit: REUTERS/Carlos Barria]

Repeal Joe Biden’s Executive Orders

Trump’s presidency began with a sweeping Executive Order to rescind every single one of Biden’s Executive Orders, with no consideration for their individual merit or the impact of their repeal. In this action, there was no assessment of whether these policies were beneficial or effective—only the presumption that they were inherently flawed simply because they bore Biden’s signature. This is not the mark of thoughtful governance or collaborative leadership; it is the act of someone wielding power unilaterally, a stark reminder that Trump’s presidency is not about serving as a leader for all but about imposing his will as an autocrat.

Muslim Ban 2.0

I’m an American Muslim, an immigrant, a person of color, and a human rights lawyer. I’m likely not Trump’s favorite person, and I’m also not sitting idle as he attempts to dismantle our Republic.

Trump’s new Muslim Ban revives his original discriminatory policy with even greater reach. While this time it avoids naming specific countries, in a pathetic attempt to pretend it is neutral, it uses virtually the same language. Moreover, it is retroactive and targets potentially anyone who immigrated since January 2021. The order demands immigrants “assimilate” and respect a “unified American identity” but provides no definitions, granting the administration unchecked power to enforce a narrow, exclusionary view of American culture. This deliberate vagueness enables sweeping persecution, forcing marginalized communities to conform or face removal. This could mean labeling someone peacefully protesting for justice for Palestine as a terrorist, and slot them for removal.

This is not about national security—it’s about control. By invoking these undefined standards, Trump’s administration has crafted a policy to target anyone it deems undesirable, providing a pretext for mass deportations and the suppression of immigrant communities. This is a blueprint for systemic persecution under the guise of national security and patriotism.

Selling Out to Big Pharma

Biden enacted an executive order aimed at alleviating the financial burden of essential medications for Medicare and Medicaid recipients. This landmark policy targeted the exorbitant costs of life-saving treatments, reducing the price of advanced cell and gene therapies, capping select generic drugs at just $2 per month, and expediting FDA approval for innovative medications addressing unmet medical needs.

In a deeply regressive move, Trump rescinded this order, prioritizing corporate profits over the well-being of millions who rely on affordable healthcare to survive. In the wake of the UnitedHealth scandal in which HELL corporations like UnitedHealth illegally overcharged cancer patients by 1000% for cancer meds, Trump’s actions ensure this type of exploitation continues.

Banning DEI and Trans People

Trump issued an executive order banning all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the White House, while simultaneously declaring that "there are only two genders." This action is not only a blatant rejection of established scientific understanding but also a cruel and targeted attack on the rights and dignity of the trans individuals.

The order starkly contrasts with Trump's rhetoric of promoting "merit," as it makes no mention of addressing legacy admissions—a system that disproportionately benefits unqualified white applicants—as I’ve detailed before. This hypocrisy underscores an agenda less about fairness and more about perpetuating systemic inequalities while marginalizing already vulnerable communities.

Exacerbating the Climate Crisis

Trump signed an executive order to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, a decision that flagrantly disregards the urgent need for global cooperation to combat the escalating climate crisis. Compounding this recklessness, he also terminated the Electric Vehicle mandate and authorized expanded fossil fuel drilling, prioritizing short-term corporate interests over long-term environmental sustainability.

This move is particularly egregious as California battles the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history—an undeniable consequence of a warming planet. By reversing critical climate policies, Trump’s actions accelerate environmental degradation and leave the nation woefully unprepared to address the growing frequency and intensity of climate disasters.

Enabling Another Global Pandemic

Trump issued an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), an alarming move that undermines global health coordination at a time when such collaboration is more critical than ever. It serves as a stark reminder of his administration's disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the nation's public health and economy under his watch, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

By abandoning the WHO once more, Trump signals a willingness to repeat the mistakes of the past, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to future pandemics and weakening our ability to respond effectively to global health crises. This decision prioritizes political posturing over the safety and well-being of millions.

Be sure to get your flu shots and COVID shots, while you can.

Threatening War

In a baffling display of nationalist symbolism, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico—its historic name for over 400 years—to the Gulf of America. Similarly, he reversed the name of Mount Denali, restoring it to Mount McKinley. While seemingly superficial, these actions are more than mere vanity projects; they signal an underlying agenda of territorial posturing and revisionist nationalism.

These measures serve as a troubling prelude to Trump’s more aggressive rhetoric, including violent threats to forcibly take the Panama Canal and escalate tensions with China, annex Greenland, and invade Canada. Such moves are not only provocative but risk undermining diplomatic stability, prioritizing bombast over thoughtful governance.

Abandoning Afghan Allies

In a deeply painful and devastating move, Trump has suspended the U.S. refugee program, effectively canceling the resettlement flights of approximately 1,660 Afghan individuals who had already been rigorously vetted and cleared through all U.S. security protocols. Let this be clear—these are not merely statistics; these include individuals who risked their lives to support U.S. troops, family members of active-duty military personnel, and children desperately awaiting reunification with their families. In some cases, these are not just Afghan allies but also American left stranded and abandoned.

This decision sends an unequivocal and chilling message to U.S. allies around the globe: Supporting the United States may cost you your life, and in your moment of greatest vulnerability, you will be forsaken. By leaving these individuals to face the looming threat of Taliban retribution, Trump is eroding the trust and goodwill built through decades of partnership and cooperation. The particular hypocrisy of this is made even worse when you consider that as one of his last acts in office, Trump forced the release of 5000 Taliban terrorists for nothing in return.

This betrayal is not only cruel but also strategically catastrophic. It undermines national security, dissuades future allies from collaborating with the U.S., and emboldens adversaries. Just one day into his presidency, Trump has already chosen to sever children from their families and abandon America’s allies to peril. There is no justification for this callousness—none.

Pardoning Criminal Masterminds

Ross William Ulbricht, the mastermind behind the infamous Silk Road dark web platform, was convicted and ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution. His platform facilitated the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs, money laundering, and other unlawful transactions, directly fueling the drug epidemic that has ravaged American communities. Among his crimes, Ulbricht was indicted for murder-for-hire plots linked to his operations—a legacy of destruction underscored by the Justice Department, which stated:

Silk Road was used by thousands of drug dealers and other unlawful vendors to distribute hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs and other unlawful goods and services to well over a hundred thousand buyers, and to launder hundreds of millions of dollars deriving from these unlawful transactions.

Yet, Trump granted Ulbricht a full and unconditional pardon. This is the same Trump who has consistently and falsely scapegoated immigrants as the root of America’s drug crisis and economic woes. Ulbricht’s pardon lays bare the stark contradiction between Trump’s rhetoric and his actions, and demonstrates his racism once more. While immigrants of color are demonized for far less, Trump’s decision rewards a wealthy white male whose actions directly contributed to untold suffering and loss.

Pardoning Violent Insurrectionists

The only real reason a President would pardon hundreds of violent murderous insurrectionists—who killed numerous police officers, injured hundreds more, and tried to kill the second and third in line to the Presidency—is in case he needed them to act again while again claiming plausible deniability. And that’s exactly what Trump just did.

In a deeply alarming display of authoritarian favoritism, Trump issued full pardons to all 1,500 white supremacist insurrectionists involved in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Among those pardoned were individuals convicted of heinous acts of violence, including the brutal assaults on law enforcement officers tasked with defending the heart of American democracy. These assaults led to at least six eventual deaths and left hundreds more injured, some with life-altering physical and psychological wounds.

The pardons extend to those who wielded weapons, used flagpoles as spears, deployed chemical irritants against officers, and constructed makeshift gallows as they chanted threats of execution against elected leaders. They include individuals like the attacker who beat Officer Michael Fanone unconscious with a stun gun, and others who trampled fellow rioters in their frenzied attempt to breach the Capitol.

By granting clemency to these violent extremists, Trump has not only undermined the rule of law but also sent a chilling message: that acts of domestic terrorism committed in allegiance to his cause will face no accountability. These pardons embolden future violence, erode trust in the justice system, and mark a dark chapter in the fight for equality and democratic governance.

Empowering Foreign Terrorists

One of the rare actions President Biden took to address anti-Palestinian violence was imposing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlers who engaged in violent attacks against Palestinians in their own homes and on their own land. These settlers have been implicated in egregious acts, including obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza—a clear violation of international law and a recognized war crime.

Trump has now rescinded these sanctions, granting impunity to those who perpetuate such violence. By removing even this minimal accountability, Trump has enabled these settlers to continue terrorizing Palestinian communities without fear of consequence. This decision will inevitably escalate tensions, fuel further violence, and destabilize the region.

Trump’s actions are not merely reckless—they are deliberate. His administration’s agenda aligns with the perpetuation of conflict and the erosion of justice, reflecting a broader fascist ideology that thrives on division and oppression. This is not a matter of policy differences; it is a direct affront to human rights and the principles of international law.

TikTok Hypocrisy

Trump signed an executive order granting a 75-day extension on the proposed TikTok ban. It is worth noting that both Democrats and Republicans have supported measures to ban the platform. However, Trump’s approach reveals a stark pattern of opportunism. Initially, he championed banning or forcing the sale of TikTok, framing it as a national security imperative when he believed it would serve his political narrative.

Now, recognizing the platform’s potential to amplify his messaging and benefit him politically, Trump has reversed course. Instead of pushing for its outright ban, he appears intent on keeping TikTok operational—or engineering its sale to one of his oligarch allies within the United States. This shifting stance underscores his tendency to prioritize personal and political gain over consistent policy principles or genuine national interests.

Full Blown Anti-Immigrant Fascism

In a previous post, I provided an in-depth analysis of Trump’s immigration-related executive orders. Below is a concise summary of the policies he is pushing, which reflect a clearly fascist agenda, one that does not make us more safe:

• Declaring a Southern Border National Emergency: Using this designation to justify extreme measures despite blocking a bipartisan immigration bill last year.

• Reviving Title 42: Reactivating this policy to effectively close the border under the guise of public health concerns.

• Deploying the Military for Border Control: Proposing military involvement in enforcing border security, raising significant legal and ethical concerns.

• Ending "Catch and Release": This humane policy allowed asylum seekers—engaged in a legal immigration process—to await hearings outside of detention.

• Enforcing "Remain in Mexico": Reinstating a policy that forces asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases are processed, violating international law and exposing vulnerable individuals to extreme danger.

• Ending Birthright Citizenship: Proposing to strip the constitutional right to citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil, in direct violation of the 14th Amendment.

• Suspending Refugee Resettlement: Halting the resettlement of refugees, abandoning America’s longstanding commitment to providing safe haven for those fleeing persecution. I elaborate below on the harm this has already caused.

These executive orders do not enhance security or improve immigration systems. Instead, they foster division, dehumanize immigrants, and dismantle constitutional protections, prioritizing cruelty and exclusion over justice and compassion.

Conclusion

These executive orders represent just a glimpse of Trump’s most destructive and troubling policies. They are harmful and set dangerous precedents for the future of our democracy, justice, and humanity. In the coming days and weeks, I will provide deeper analyses of these policies to shed light on their far-reaching consequences.

Now more than ever, we need to remain informed, vigilant, and united in the face of such challenges. Our fight against injustice and fascist policies requires action both immediate and sustained. Here are five critical steps we can take together to make an impact:

1. Activate: Engage in local politics—attend school board meetings, city councils, or join immigrant rights organizations. Change starts in our own communities.

2. Communicate: Contact your representatives and demand humane policies. Be relentless in ensuring your voice is heard.

3. Invest: Volunteer your time or donate to local non-profit organizations that are on the frontlines protecting democracy and human rights.

4. Educate: Stay informed and support independent media and advocates fighting fascism. Share that knowledge and empower those around you.

5. Organize: Lead by example and bring others into this fight. A friend’s involvement today could mean exponential growth in our movement tomorrow.

Together, these actions can create the momentum needed to protect our neighbors, uphold justice, and dismantle oppressive systems. Together, we can resist authoritarianism and work toward a more equitable and compassionate future. Let’s stay committed, stay informed, and continue to push for justice.