Executive Disorder
Trump, a desk, a pen, and an insatiable thirst for signing things that may or may not matter.
During what he would call a forced break as President of the USA, Trump kept spreading the big stolen-election lie on Truth Social as if his life depended on it. Maybe this was the only topic that truly resonated with his cult members. Because what’s more frustrating than being scammed out of office? Some Trump supporters even went so far as to believe that Biden was merely a shadow president, installed by a woke mob financed by George Soros with the ultimate goal of replacing the American population.
But what Trump missed the most was signing executive orders.
Our man loves a good executive order. Nothing quite captures his essence like the image of himself sitting at that oversized Resolute Desk, a pen in one hand, an executive order in the other, and a room full of sycophants ready to applaud as if he just personally invented the concept of signing things. Most nights when Trump wasn’t asleep (which, let’s face it, is most nights), he fantasized about all the executive orders he should be signing. Instead, he was doomed to watch Biden make the American economy the envy of the world while simultaneously, according to MAGA logic, mentally declining.
But now? Now he’s back at his desk in the Oval Office. The perfect setup: no pesky congressional majorities to worry about, no debates, just pure, unfiltered presidential power—delivered with the flourish of a signature big enough to be seen from Mars.
Since the start of his second term, the executive order machine has been running at full speed. Every single one gets its own press op, because why govern quietly when you can make it a spectacle?
Of course, some of these executive orders are pure performance—designed less to enact policy and more to give his base something to cheer for on Fox News. Others, however, have real consequences, particularly for marginalized communities, and they serve as a disturbing reminder that his love of signing things is matched only by his love of consolidating power.
Take, for example, his recent executive orders1 targeting the transgender community. There's one redefining "sex" in federal programs to mean "biological characteristics at conception"—because apparently, the most pressing issue in America right now is making sure trans people can’t get government recognition. There’s the military ban, resurrected from his first term like some undead policy nightmare. And let’s not forget the rollback of LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections, because what’s the point of power if you can’t use it to make life harder for people who are already struggling?
These orders won’t all hold up in court, but that’s not the point. The point is the optics: the constant us vs. them culture war drumbeat, the flexing of executive muscle, the endless proof that Trump is still the same man who thinks governing means making grand, authoritarian gestures and watching the crowd go wild.
And then there are the executive orders2 that actually will stick around. The ones gutting federal regulations, shrinking government oversight, and further dismantling the administrative state. Those will have lasting impacts— those that won't make headlines today but will quietly erode protections for years to come.
In the end, Trump's obsession with executive orders isn’t about effective governance. It’s about ruling by decree, making everything a spectacle, and wielding power in the most visible, self-aggrandizing way possible. And so, we watch as the signatures pile up, the press ops continue, and democracy gets just a little bit more eroded—one pen stroke at a time.
Defining "Sex" Based on Biological Characteristics at Conception: On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," which redefines "sex" in federal programs to refer only to biological characteristics "at conception," effectively excluding recognition of transgender identities.
Military Ban on Transgender Individuals: On January 27, 2025, President Trump issued the executive order "Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness," reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, citing concerns over military readiness and effectiveness.
Rollback of LGBTQ+ Nondiscrimination Protections: On February 5, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," which not only bans "male competitive participation" in women's sports but also rolls back certain nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, arguing the need to protect women's sports and spaces.
"Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy"
Date Issued: February 19, 2025
Description: This executive order initiates a reduction in federal bureaucracy by eliminating non-essential functions and reducing statutory ones to the minimum necessary. The goal is to minimize government waste, reduce inflation, and promote American freedom and innovation."Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Deregulatory Initiative"
Date Issued: February 19, 2025
Description: This order directs federal agencies to rescind or modify existing regulations that lack clear congressional authorization, aiming to reduce regulatory burdens and promote economic growth."Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy"
Date Issued: March 14, 2025
Description: Building upon previous efforts, this executive order continues the reduction of federal bureaucracy by eliminating non-statutory functions deemed unnecessary by the administration, thereby reducing the size of the federal government.