Trump signs multiple executive orders, proclamations, and presidential memoranda, including those related to investigating election fraud.

Washington, D.C., April 11, 2025 – By Alfred Jyung-Hyun Kim

On April 11, President Donald J. Trump signed a series of executive orders, proclamations, and memoranda at the White House, laying out his policy vision for the new administration. Among them was a directive addressing investigations into alleged election fraud, drawing significant attention to its implications. The Trump administration has prioritized restoring election integrity alongside economic revitalization, military strengthening, and deregulation. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall attended the event. Whitmer, a Democrat who has led Michigan, a state known for its automotive industry and the Great Lakes,since 2019, gained recognition for her handling of the pandemic and economic growth. Hall, a Republican, has served as speaker of the Michigan House, championing local development and conservative values. The two joined forces to address regional issues, a bipartisan effort Trump warmly endorsed.

Trump also signed an executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Once a global leader, American shipbuilding—while still producing warships and civilian vessels—has long ceded dominance to China, which now holds an 83% global market share. Spearheaded by the National Security Council, the order seeks to foster healthy competition between public and private sectors. Trump emphasized that the initiative would open new economic opportunities in Michigan, the heart of American manufacturing. Recalling an era when the U.S. built a ship a day, he contrasted it with today’s struggle to produce even one annually, underscoring the order’s focus on job creation and national security.

The president addressed the future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan’s Macomb County, a hub for the Air Force and National Guard facing potential downsizing due to Air Force restructuring. After discussions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump announced considerations for deploying F-16 and F-35 fighters to the base. Whitmer praised his collaboration, criticizing what she called President Joe Biden’s neglect. Hall echoed her support, highlighting delays under the Obama administration and expressing confidence in Selfridge’s future success.

Trump also tackled the threat posed by Asian carp in Lake Michigan. Introduced to the U.S. in the 1970s, this invasive species rapidly reproduces, preying on native fish and disrupting the Great Lakes ecosystem, which holds 20% of the world’s freshwater. Michigan’s economy relies heavily on fishing and tourism. Trump discussed installing barriers with the Army Corps of Engineers to curb the carp’s spread, a project estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Whitmer commended his proactive approach, while Hall criticized Biden and Obama for their inaction.

In another move, Trump ordered reforms to the defense acquisition system, which governs military equipment purchases. Long criticized for inefficiency and delays in adopting new technologies, the system is expected to benefit from faster procurement and cost-effectiveness under the new directive. Trump lambasted its current state, vowing to secure top-tier equipment at reasonable prices. For instance, he proposed acquiring newer models to replace the controversy-plagued, over-budget F-35, accelerating military modernization.

The president also streamlined foreign military sales, a process through which the U.S. supplies weapons to allies to strengthen international partnerships. Previously hampered by complexity and delays, the reformed system is expected to ensure prompt deliveries, boost defense industry revenues, and create domestic jobs. Trump previewed the imminent approval of the 2025 federal budget, which includes increased defense spending. He pledged efficient budget execution, touting his first term’s military rebuilding efforts. In contrast, he sharply criticized the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal under Biden, calling it the “most humiliating moment in American history” and referencing the Kabul airport attack that killed 13 U.S. service members.

Trump unleashed a flurry of deregulation measures, including the repeal of Biden-era water pressure restrictions on showerheads, toilets, and dishwashers. Implemented in 2021 to conserve water, these rules were decried by Trump as an infringement on consumer choice. The new order permits higher-pressure products, with Trump recounting personal frustrations over weak water flow during showers. He also lifted a ban on plastic straws, citing the inconvenience of paper alternatives that dissolve too quickly, and vowed to make deregulation permanent with congressional approval.

The president signed an order to eliminate monopolistic regulations, arguing that some rules favor large corporations while stifling startups. The directive calls for collaboration between the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to promote competition and protect consumers. Trump further instructed agencies to halt regulations violating the Constitution or Supreme Court precedents, ordering a comprehensive review to eliminate unnecessary rules. He claimed to have revised approximately 200 regulations already.

On election integrity, Trump signed orders and memoranda targeting individuals and entities suspected of involvement in electoral misconduct. Notably, he singled out Sussman Godfrey, a prominent law firm known for civil and commercial litigation, accusing it of misuse in government affairs and barring it from federal resources and facilities. He also alluded to settlements of $600–700 million paid by multiple law firms, implying ties to election irregularities.

Trump did not spare Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official from 2017 to 2019, who anonymously authored the 2019 book A Warning, critical of the Trump administration. After revealing his identity, Taylor faced Trump’s ire. Claiming to barely know him, Trump revoked Taylor’s security clearance and ordered a Justice Department investigation into alleged leaks, labeling his actions “treasonous.”

Christopher Krebs, the top cybersecurity official for the 2020 election, also drew Trump’s criticism. As director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from 2018 to 2020, Krebs declared the 2020 election secure, countering fraud allegations. Trump condemned this stance, revoked Krebs’ clearance, and ordered a Justice Department probe into his activities, insisting the 2020 election was rigged. He advocated for paper ballots, same-day voting, voter ID, and citizenship verification.

Trump proclaimed National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, honoring veterans’ sacrifices, emphasizing VA benefits, and pledging support for homeless veterans. He also declared National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, vowing to aid victims and deport undocumented immigrants. Criticizing the use of autopens—devices that sign on a president’s behalf—Trump insisted on personally signing key documents, accusing Biden of relying on them of incompetence.

The president foreshadowed sweeping tax cuts, describing them as more significant than his 2017 reductions for businesses and individuals. While withholding specifics, he aimed at Harvard University, sarcastically claiming it teaches “basic math,” and announced plans to withhold $8 billion in funding from Harvard and Columbia. Addressing the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, he asserted they would not have occurred under his leadership.

Trump emphasized border security, praising Agriculture Secretary Kristi Noem, a former South Dakota governor, and Tom Homan, a senior Border Patrol official. He blamed Biden for a surge in illegal immigration. Referencing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, he accused then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of security failures, claiming she admitted responsibility to her filmmaker daughter. He further alleged that the January 6 committee had destroyed evidence to shield Pelosi.

Also, Mike Huckabee, Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, was confirmed on this day. A leading Republican who governed Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, Huckabee is a staunch Christian conservative and former Fox News personality. Trump finalized his appointment and letter of credence to Israel’s president, expressing confidence in Huckabee’s ability to excel in Middle East diplomacy. Israel, a vital U.S. strategic partner, plays a central role in regional peace and stability. The selection of Huckabee—a pastor and traditional Christian conservative—carries profound implications.