In a bold speech to Congress on March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump declared that the United States “will be woke no longer.” He announced the end of what he called the “tyranny” of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. The speech received a standing ovation from Republican members of Congress, while Democrats remained silent. Trump’s executive actions followed swiftly. He ended DEI initiatives across the federal government and extended this elimination to private companies and the military. He signed an order making English the official language of the United States and renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Additionally, he restored the name of Mount McKinley in Alaska. In his address, Trump emphasized the importance of merit-based hiring and promotion. He stated that skill and competence should matter more than race or gender. He pointed to a Supreme Court decision that supports a merit-based approach and dismissed lawsuits from the Biden era against police and fire departments. The Federal Aviation Administration also returned to merit-based hiring. Trump’s policies have drawn significant scrutiny as live fact-checking was conducted by organizations like ABC News and PolitiFact. Trump’s policies on gender and education were also significant. He signed an order recognizing only two genders: male and female. He banned transgender athletes from competing in school sports and removed critical race theory from public schools. Republicans cheered for these changes, as Trump continued to advocate for hiring based on merit. The evolution of privacy rights in America serves as a backdrop for ongoing debates over personal freedoms and governmental policies. On immigration and foreign policy, Trump imposed tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico. He paused aid to Ukraine, marking a shift from Biden’s policies, and withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council. He claimed that America was reorienting its economy and foreign policy, stating, “America is back.” During the speech, some Democrats walked out, wearing protest shirts that read “RESIST.” Speaker Mike Johnson warned about decorum violations as Trump acknowledged he wouldn’t please everyone, especially Democrats.
