Pegasus Reporters Issues on the Wing
“Biden administration officials had credited the app with helping reduce the number of detentions at the border since it was first introduced for migrants in January 2023. It was the only legal pathway to request asylum at the US-Mexico border. But now, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website says that the app is “no longer available” and that existing appointments have been cancelled”
*President Donald Trump having been sworn in as the 47th president of the USA
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | JANUARY 22, 2025
As Donald Trump takes the front seat in the Oval Office as the 47th president of the United States of America, USA, the chips are down as the much-expected Real Trump ricochets at the pro-swearing in ceremony which took place on January 20th. PegasusReporters brings you highlights of the events as captured by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
* Administration scraps ‘CBP One’ app used by asylum seekers
*CBP One app on a mobile phone. (Image source, Getty Images)
In a significant reversal of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, the new Trump administration has scrapped CBP One – a mobile application used by prospective migrants to book appointments to appear at a port of entry.
Biden administration officials had credited the app with helping reduce the number of detentions at the border since it was first introduced for migrants in January 2023. It was the only legal pathway to request asylum at the US-Mexico border.
But now, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website says that the app is “no longer available” and that existing appointments have been cancelled. According to CBS, the BBC’s US partner, the Biden administration had scheduled roughly 30,000 appointments via CBP One for migrants to enter the US in the next three weeks. Other estimates suggested that as many as 270,000 migrants were in Mexico waiting for an opportunity to enter the US using CBP One.
Video taken by a Washington Post reporter in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez appears to show migrants crying after learning that their appointments had been cancelled.
Russia Vladimir Putin and US Donald Trump
Donald Trump spoke of his desire to be a “peacemaker and unifier,” and followed up with a brief reference to yesterday’s breakthrough in the Middle East. But to his global audience, this was another tough, challenging address, full of references to American strength and potential, if familiar, threats to those who stand in its way.
* Trump called the Panama Canal a “foolish gift” to Panama and repeated his pledge to do something about it.
“We’re taking it back,” he warned.
* The Gulf of Mexico, he said, would henceforth be known as the Gulf of America.
There was an almost throwaway line that under his leadership, America would be a country that “expands its borders,” although this was quickly followed by a pledge to plant the American flag on Mars.
* Trump repeated an old threat to treat drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations.
* And of course, the president threw down the gauntlet of tariffs on the global economy.
“We will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” he warned.
It remains to be seen how all of this relates to his conviction that “sunlight is pouring over the entire world. “
* Listing what he wanted to change, President Trump said on the economy: “I will direct all members of my cabinet… to defeat what was record inflation.”
Inflation was high under the Biden administration but wasn’t the highest on record.
It hit 9.1% in June 2022 as America – like other countries – experienced high inflation as global supply chain issues, linked to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, contributed to rising prices.
That’s nowhere near the worst in history – the record was 23.7% in 1920, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
US inflation has fallen – under former President Biden – with the latest monthly figure at 2.9% as of December 2024, according to the BLS.
Unlike other subjects in Trump’s inaugural address, a short section on trade did not mention a specific executive order to introduce new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, or others.
It’s something he has repeatedly promised to deliver on his first day in office.
He told the audience: “I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.”
Many economists argue it will be US consumers who pay the bill for tariffs as companies compensate with the prices charged in the shops.
That won’t help cut inflation – something Trump promised earlier in the speech.
Donald Trump having finished his inaugural address – a mix of sharp jabs against the outgoing Democratic administration and a promise of better things to come.
As former President Joe Biden – and other Democrats – sat stoically behind him, Trump claimed a mandate to reverse “a horrible betrayal” that had taken place. He lashed out at what he called a “radical and corrupt establishment that has extracted power and wealth from our nation”.
“All of this will change starting today,” he said.
From there, Trump turned to what he proposed to do – detailing a string of executive actions on immigration and energy, and pledging to end government-mandated diversity programmes. He repeated his pledge to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and to take back the Panama Canal.
“The US will once again consider itself a growing nation,” he said, pledging to increase American wealth and expand “our territory”.
That last bit might catch the ear of US allies, who have already been concerned by Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland and quips about making Canada the 51st US state.
On the campaign trail, and in this speech, Trump made a series of big promises. Now that he is president, he will be challenged to deliver – and show what the “golden age” he heralds means.
Trump acknowledges his political comeback and says “the American people have spoken”.
“I stand before you as proof that you should never believe something is impossible to do. In America, doing the impossible is what we do best,” Trump says.
He concludes by saying that America will not be conquered or intimidated
“We will not fail. From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign and independent nation,” he says.
“The future is ours, and our golden age has just begun.”
* US astronauts will go to Mars and reach ‘new heights of victory’
Trump underscores that his message to Americans is “to act with courage, vigour and the vitality of history’s greatest civilisation”.
He speaks of ambition and reaching “new heights of victory and success.”
Trump adds that the US will increase its wealth, expand its territory and carry its flag into new horizons – including on Mars.
“We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, to plant the stars and stripes on planet Mars,” he says.
* Trump again falsely accuses China of operating the Panama Canal
Trump talking about the Panama Canal, alleged a “foolish gift that should have never been made” to Panama, he says. He falsely claims “China is operating” the Panama Canal.
“We didn’t give it to China. We’re taking it back,” he says, to applause from his supporters while Biden and Harris sit expressionless in the crowd.
For context: President Trump earlier this month refused to rule out military force to seize it. He remarked during a news conference at which he also falsely stated that the Panama Canal was being operated by Chinese soldiers
*President celebrates historic Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal
On the Middle East, Trump is now saying he will be a “peacemaker and unifier” and talks about the three Israeli hostages who had been held by Hamas in Gaza and were returned to their families yesterday.
This receives a standing ovation from Biden and Harris.
“America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration from the entire world” he says.
* He says they will soon be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”.
* He also says they’ll restore the name of William McKinley to Mount McKinley – which he says is “where it should be and belongs”.
For context: It is currently Mount Denali, which is its indigenous name.
* I’ll deliver a ‘colour-blind and merit-based’ society – president
Trump says he will end what he says has been government policy to bring race and gender into “every aspect of public and private life,” vowing to forge a society that is “colour-blind and merit-based” instead.
He adds that, as of today, it will be the official policy of the US government that there are only two genders, male and female.
* ‘The American dream will soon be back’
Trump says he’ll immediately begin an overhaul of trade, and that he is establishing the “External Revenue Service” to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues. He says these revenues will come from “foreign sources”.
“The American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before,” the president says.
* He talks about the establishment of DOGE – the new Department of Government Efficiency.
“After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional restriction of expression, I will also sign an Executive Order to stop all censorship and bring back free speech to America,” he says.
For context – freedom of speech is already protected by the US constitution.
Culled from the BBC News.com
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Read Our Preceding Story: MILESTONE: Enter President Donald Trump; the 47th President of the United States of America
