By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-In-Chief

It has been less than a week since Donald Trump was inaugurated into office, and he has already begun to push forward on what he sees as “Making America Great Again.” But what have we really seen so far?

Trump’s campaign revolved around strengthening the economy by imposing tax cuts and securing the border by ending President Biden’s catch-and-release policy. Based on a recent Pew Research poll, the country’s pressing issues at the moment include the economy, the healthcare system, political divisions, and rising concerns about abortion rights and gun violence. 

President Trump has issued a number of executive orders during his first days in office, but many of them don’t seem to tackle or address the issues facing the country. 

Quickly after his inauguration he renamed The Gulf of Mexico as The Gulf of America and changed the name of Mount Denali to Mount McKinley. During a post-inaugural speech, he also pronounced that America will now only recognize two genders. 

While some may argue that these decisions are symbolic, they don’t directly address the real challenges facing Americans. Renaming geographical features or issuing statements on gender doesn’t exactly tackle issues like job growth, healthcare, or social equity: issues that Trump’s campaign promised to prioritize.

That being said, not all of Trump’s executive orders have resulted in entirely negative responses. For example, his 75-day extension on the trending app, TikTok, has newer generations hopeful for the future. 

However, when it comes to pulling out of the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the Paris Climate Accord, Trump’s actions are a step backward. Leaving the WHA, which coordinates global health efforts, could isolate the U.S. from collaborations on health issues, leaving the country vulnerable. 

Also, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, a global agreement aimed at combating climate change, sends a dangerous message to the world. Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and the U.S. stepping away from international efforts only weakens the global resolve to address it. 

As the world’s largest economy and one of its biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, America’s role in these agreements is crucial, not just for the planet’s future but also for maintaining diplomatic relationships.

Whether or not these decisions will lead to a better, “great” America remains unclear.

However, if Trump is serious about making America great again, he’ll need to focus more on the issues that truly matter to the average American. 

Pulling out of important global agreements and making symbolic moves may grab attention, but they won’t necessarily move the country forward.