On his first day back in office, U.S. President Donald Trump wasted no time in making significant decisions that could reshape America's foreign and domestic policies. Among the most notable actions were the initiation of a U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a 75-day extension for TikTok's operations, and the revocation of AI regulations established by his predecessor.
Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. to formally begin the process of exiting the WHO, a move he had previously attempted in 2020. He cited the organization's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt necessary reforms, and its disproportionate financial demands on the U.S. Trump also criticized the organization’s ties with China, emphasizing the vast disparity between U.S. contributions and China's minimal payments despite its larger population. He pointed out that the U.S. paid $500 million to the WHO, while China contributed only $39 million, describing the financial imbalance as unfair.
In a related development, Trump extended TikTok’s operations in the U.S. for 75 more days. This move was made to address national security concerns while keeping the popular app running for millions of Americans. The extension is in response to a 2020 law that set a deadline for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a potential ban. Trump’s decision provides time to further explore the issue without causing an abrupt shutdown.
Furthermore, Trump revoked an executive order from the Biden administration that sought to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). The order, which required developers to submit safety tests for high-risk AI systems, was viewed by Trump as a potential hindrance to innovation in the rapidly advancing technology sector. By rescinding the order, Trump aims to remove federal oversight from AI development.
These bold moves signal a clear shift in U.S. policy under Trump’s second term, reaffirming his "America First" approach to global affairs, national security, and technological innovation.
