Americans react to Trump’s first week

If President Donald Trump was polarizing during the campaign, his first week back in office was no different.

On Monday, he was officially sworn in as the 47th president of the United States before signing hundreds of executive actions, reversing the policies of President Joe Biden’s administration and fulfilling many of his campaign promises.

We spoke to 10 Americans from across the political spectrum about their thoughts on this week.

Here are their big stuff for the outdoors.

Not everyone we spoke to followed the events closely, but almost everyone had an opinion on the unconventional day it was the weather broke the traditionwith events and crowds moving inside.

Kyle Plessa, 39, an independent candidate who voted for Trump: “I felt like I was watching WWE, pro wrestling. Just the hype, the swagger, the playing to the cameras. You can tell that entertainment is a big part of Donald Trump’s cred, unlike if you had Barack Obama or Joe Biden inaugurated.”

Greg Bruno, 67, a Republican who voted for Trump: “I think Trump proved he’s a man of the people when he threw those pens into the crowd after signing executive orders in front of 20,000 people. It just showed you who he really works for.”

Richard Weil, 74, an independent candidate who voted for Kamala Harris: “[His inaugural address] it was not as dark as his first speech [in 2017]but it was certainly bitter. There was nothing there that said good things about America.”

Angela Ramos, 37, an independent candidate who voted for Harris: “I find a lot of Trump’s speech disingenuous, because he mentioned specific things like justice, honor, integrity, trustworthiness, but those are not qualities that I think reflect on his policies or his behavior… I looked at it outside of a sense of civic duties.”

During his first week, Trump signed hundreds of executive orders dealing with big issues – including immigration and the economy – and small ones, such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico and releasing files related to the assassination of President John F Kennedy. You can make up for it here.

Larry Kees, 47, a Republican who voted for Trump: “I was happy [with the executive orders]. There were so many of them. I couldn’t follow. Obviously he’s not an ordinary politician – with most politicians you’ll hear one thing and they’ll do another.”

Tony Flecklin, 69, a Republican who voted for Trump: “You can expect behavior from him that’s going to be different than what you normally see. But overall, I’m wholeheartedly in favor of his policies on border protection, economic sufficiency, oil and gas.”

Greg Bruno, Republican: “That’s why he was elected. Many of these orders involve issues that the American public wants to see fulfilled. These are campaign promises and he’s fulfilling them.”

Voters who voted for Kamala Harris said they didn’t like many of Trump’s choices, particularly on climate, health and his decision to pardon supporters convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol. Others wondered who might influence Trump’s future actions.

Carlyn Jorgensen, 40, an independent candidate who voted for Harris: “I didn’t like the fact that it was the CEOs in the first row – that you had Elon Musk and [Jeff] Bezos in the front row. It seemed to me like – are we heading towards an oligarchy at this point?”

Angela Ramos, independent: “I’m most concerned about withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization, simply because our actions have really profound consequences, not only for us within the US, but for the entire world.”

David Lieck, 58, a Democrat who voted for Harris: “I felt like he was essentially pandering to his base in the action he took in terms of pardoning and commuting the rebels on January 6th. I felt it was vindictive and sent the wrong message to the American people.”

Both supporters and critics have said they believe President Trump is approaching his second term with more urgency than his first.

Greg Bruno, Republican: “He came into his first presidency under attack … you put a person on the defensive when you’re under attack like that. This presidency doesn’t have that element. So not only is he coming in unattacked, but he’s coming in as a very experienced person in how to use presidential power.”

Shanton Mazumdar, 58, a Democrat who voted for Harris: “I think he’s gotten a little tougher, tougher, it seems. He’s been a little emboldened by his constituents and the people who have supported him. I think he’s been given a little more … freedom to be more to the right than he was before.”

Richard Weil, independent: “I think he’s more focused. I think he’s angrier, he’s more vindictive … but I think he’s turning into a bitter old man. I think he’s changed and I think he’s changed for the worse.”

Tony Flecklin, Republican: “I’m happy he’s delivering on what he promised. Sometimes his methods are a bit draconian. That’s just the nature of Donald J. Trump. He’s not going to be furious about the way he approaches things.”