Trump Signs Executive Orders Halting Biden Policies; Two Americans Freed After Prisoner Exchange

On President Donald Trump's first day back in the Oval Office, he's signed several executive orders on everything from repealing former President Joe Biden's policies to eliminating gender ideology from public schools. He has also pardoned 1,500 January 6th defendants.

The U.S. and Afghanistan freed two unidentified Americans in exchange for a Taliban figure, Khan Mohammed, who was serving two life sentences in California, on drug trafficking and terrorism charges. According to a statement from his family, Ryan Corbett, one of the unidentified Americans, was detained in August 2022 while on a business trip in Afghanistan.

The Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in a unanimous 99-0 vote, hours after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Rubio is a former Florida senator and called it a "great honor". He pledged to confront the Chinese Communist Party, calling it America’s most dangerous adversary. Hearings for other key Trump nominees, including Doug Collins and Elise Stefanik are set to continue this week.