10 President Trump Policies That Will Benefit Africans This Year

In Summary

• Donald Trump signed 40 Executive Orders during his first day as President.
• This article contains a list of all 40 Executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.
• Despite reactions from critics, some of President Trump’s orders will benefit Africa.
• This article contains all the 40 Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.

Deep Dive!

During his campaign, Donald Trump was unequivocal about his plans for America if elected into office. He often spoke publicly about the decisions he would make that were contrary to the stance and modus operandi of the then government of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. So, the majority of the Executive Orders he signed on his first day as president did not come as a surprise to many.

Many critics – especially Africans and those who follow the continent closely, frowned at some of Trump’s orders. The decision of the newly elected president to indefinitely end American citizenship status by birthright to children to undocumented and illegal couples in the United States, creating policies to tighten migration into the country and stopping foreign aid, did not go down well with many.

Those who favour Trump’s policies and supported his campaign have been quick to point out that it is wrong to judge the incoming president on the impact of his policies on foreigners over the American citizens whom he swore to protect. Trump has reiterated his mission whenever given the chance that he tends to make America great again and give back the country to Americans.

No matter which side of the divide you belong to, when we critically analyze the policies, it is evident that many favour the American people. That said, some of Trump’s policies would also benefit Africans – both those in the United States and within the African continent.

In this article, we have carefully studied the 40 Executive Orders signed by Donald Trump on his first day as president of the United States and selected the top 10 policies that would benefit Africans. Check them out!

Check Out 10 President Trump Policies That Will Benefit Africans This Year

1. Restoring Freedom of Speech

President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.” The order alleges that the Biden Administration infringed on Americans' free speech rights by suppressing content on online platforms under the guise of combating misinformation. It directs the Attorney General to review federal policies from the past four years and propose corrective measures.

How it Benefits Africans: Freedom of speech in the United States has been restricted for Black Americans, and they are among the least likely to feel protected by the First Amendment. Black Americans have historically been treated differently when it comes to free speech. State governments have used their discretion to suppress Black Americans' rights. This bill is set to address the issue.

2. Emergency Price Relief

In a memorandum titled “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Tackling the Cost-of-Living Crisis,” Trump instructed federal agencies to introduce measures aimed at reducing the costs of housing, healthcare, food, and fuel, while also creating job opportunities. Though no specific actions were outlined, the memorandum mandates that the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy provide updates every 30 days on the progress of implementation.

How it Benefits Africans: The emergency price relief will not only benefit Africans but also many Americans and non-Americans alike who fall into the middle or lower class of American society.

3. Delay of TikTok Ban

Trump signed an executive order titled “Application of Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to TikTok.” This effectively delayed the U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned app TikTok by 75 days. The ban had previously received bipartisan support in Congress and was upheld by the Supreme Court. The delay followed a brief shutdown of the app earlier that week.

How it Benefits Africans: TikTok is a popular app for Africans – many of whom depend on the platform for their livelihood. In early 2024, Nigeria had 23.84 million TikTok users aged 18 and above. According to available data, Egypt currently has the most TikTok users in the Africa region with an estimated 32.94 million users. Delaying the ban will enable the American government to reach an agreement with the developers so that the app can continue to serve millions of people worldwide.

4. America First Trade Policy

In a memorandum titled “America First Trade Policy,” Trump addressed multiple officials, including Cabinet members, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Office of Management and Budget. The memorandum emphasized the need to address "unfair and unbalanced trade," particularly focusing on tariff and trade policies, including those involving China.

How it Benefits Africans: America is a role model to many American leaders and it is believed that the ‘selfish’ approach to place one’s country first when making trade policies will benefit Africa and Africans in no small way, if adopted.

5. Unleashing American Energy

Trump’s executive order “Unleashing American Energy” called for an immediate review of agency activities that might hinder the development of domestic energy resources, including natural gas, coal, and biofuels. Federal agencies were required to submit action plans within 30 days to counteract policies perceived as restrictive. The order also revoked 12 regulations from the Biden era related to clean energy initiatives and paused funding under the Inflation Reduction Act.

How it Benefits Africans: The executive order primarily focuses on boosting domestic energy production in the United States. While its direct benefits are targeted at the U.S., there are potential indirect ways this policy could impact Africa and Africans positively through; reduced global energy prices, increased investment in energy infrastructure, more partnership opportunities with African countries with high energy reserves, technology and expertise sharing, geopolitical stability and trade, and renewable energy insights.

6. Promoting Federal Civic Architecture

In a memorandum titled “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture,” Trump advocated for federal public buildings to adhere to styles reflecting traditional and classical architecture. This directive aimed to honour regional and historical architectural heritage, though it has drawn criticism for being seen as a political statement.

How it Benefits Africans: This executive order could benefit Africans in various ways including encouraging cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Africa. African architects, urban planners, and artists may find platforms for collaboration with U.S. institutions, leading to a mutual appreciation of cultural and architectural heritage. Also, African students in architecture and urban planning could benefit from scholarships, workshops, or exchange programs inspired by the renewed focus on traditional and classical architecture.

7. Pause on U.S. Foreign Aid

An executive order titled “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid” introduced a 90-day suspension of foreign development assistance, with a review of existing aid programs. The Secretary of State retained authority to waive the pause for specific projects. Trump argued that some foreign aid initiatives were misaligned with U.S. interests and values.

How it Benefits Africans: Anything that involves reducing or stopping foreign aid to Africa isa good step in the right direction for Africans. The action could encourage African countries to prioritize local solutions, diversify partnerships, and strengthen their economies. This shift could foster resilience and reduce long-term dependency on foreign assistance – which is currently the norm.

8. Establishment of DOGE

Through an executive order titled “Establishing and Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” Trump announced the creation of a new agency, renaming the U.S. Digital Service. Elon Musk was controversially proposed as its head. DOGE is tasked with enhancing government productivity and efficiency, though it faces lawsuits alleging violations of federal advisory committee rules.

How it Benefits Africans: The establishment of the "President's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency and productivity of U.S. governmental operations. While the initiative is U.S.-centric, it can benefit Africans by inspiring Governmental Reforms in Africa, increasing potential collaborations, and enhancing collaboration opportunities, knowledge transfer and trade. It would also give leverage and opportunities to African innovations.

9. Redefining Gender in Federal Policies

The executive order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” defined men and women strictly by biological sex. It proposed rolling back Biden-era transgender protections and instructed the Attorney General to safeguard single-sex spaces and rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

How it Benefits Africans: Many Africans and African nations have cultural and legal systems that align with traditional views of gender as binary. This policy could serve as a point of validation for Africans that advocate for similar positions, reinforcing their stance on gender issues in domestic and international discussions. It could also ensure that the are protected from the backlash and discrimination faced, for not accepting the trend.

10. Merit-Based Federal Hiring

Trump signed an executive order titled “Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service.” The order opposed diversity hiring practices, describing them as discriminatory, and mandated a shift towards hiring based solely on merit and skills.

How it Benefits Africans: No debate can counter the fact that there is a large number of Africans studying in the United States of America and eligible for high-paying positions in the country. This bill will offer a fair ground for recruitment based on merit, and it would favour Africans by removing the second-class citizen or migrant status that prevents many Africans from getting positions they qualify for.

Full List of Executive Orders Signed by Donald Trump on Day 1 as President

You can find the full list of executive orders signed by President Trump during his first day in office, below:

1. Reinstating the name Mount McKinley
2. Renaming Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
3. Designating Cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
4. Ending diversity, inclusion, and equity hiring in the federal government
5. Temporary withdrawal of all areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing
6. Revocation of any active or current security clearances held by the former intelligence officials involved with "inappropriate political coordination with the 2020 Biden presidential campaign" and John R. Bolton
7. Granting pardons for January 6 rioters
8. Reevaluating United States foreign aid
9. Declaring a national energy emergency
10. Restoring accountability for career senior executives
11. Promoting beautiful federal civic architecture
12. Restoring the death penalty in the US
13. Routing more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of California
14. Securing the United State's borders
15. United States citizenship does not automatically extend to those born in the United States
16. Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
17. Unleashing America's affordable and reliable energy and natural resources
18. Clarifying the military's role in protecting the US borders
19. 'America First' trade policy that benefits American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses
20. Resolving the backlog of security clearances for Executive Office of the President
21. Restoring accountability to policy-influence positions within the federal workforce
22. Withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization
23. Delaying TikTok ban for 75 days
24. Putting America First in international environmental agreements
25. Deliver emergency price relief to the American people
26. Hiring freeze for federal civilian employees (does not apply to military personnel of the armed forces or to positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety)
27. Regulatory freeze pending review
28. Restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship
29. Recissions of dozens of executive orders and actions from Biden administration
30. Ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government
31. Only two sexes, male and female, to be recognized by the federal government
32. Department of Government Efficiency to implement the president's DOGE Agenda
33. Putting America and its interests first in foreign policy
34. Protecting US citizens from terrorist attacks and threats
35. Tapping into the vast natural resources, energy, and seafood in Alaska
36. Ensuring the federal government carries out United State's immigration laws
37. Pulling the US from the Paris Agreement
38. Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States
39. Pulling the US out of the global corporate tax deal secured by Biden
40. Organization of the National Security Council and subcommittees