Opinion and Commentary By Donna Westfall – January 24, 2025

How many of you know any 78 year old men that can accomplish what President Trump has accomplished in just five days?

He’s the oldest President at inauguration and he let it be known during his speech that certain things would take place immediately and he is a man of his word.

Let’s first look at some of his cabinet picks. Despite being harangued by Democrats during confirmation hearings, this morning it looks like the Senate is going to OK Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to head the Dept. of Defense – think Pentagon.

• Marco Rubio (Republican Senator from Florida) has the distinction of being the first to be confirmed as US Secretary of State and he’s hit the ground running. It’s been said he has a remarkable understanding of foreign policy. But we’ll get back to that later.

• Homeland Security: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. * Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): John Ratcliffe

• Office of Management and Budget: Russell Vought. * Treasury Department: Scott Bessent. * Department of Transportation: Sean Duffy. * Attorney General: Pam Bondi. * Interior Secretary: Doug Burgum. 

• Housing and Urban Development: Scott Turner; * Department of Energy: Chris Wright. *Environmental Protection Agency: Lee Zeldin.
• Dir. National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard;
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services
• Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary
• Education Department: Linda McMahon, Rep.
• Lori Chavez-DeRemer: Department of Labor.

According to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the Senate plans to work overtime to get those nominees confirmed. That includes nights, weekends and recesses. Sounds like they are serious.

Switching over to pardons – we now know the former President Biden pardoned every Tom, Dick and Harry he could think of.

On Trump’s first day signed numerous Executive Orders (EO).

He pardoned more than 1,500 J6 “hostages” from jails. Listening to interviews of those released after so many years, some were shipped from jail to jail, not allowed contact with their attorney’s or families. Lives ruined and needing to be rebuilt.

He also pardoned over 20 Pro Life Prisoners for protesting abortions. Today, Friday January 24th is the March for Life. They expect 150,000 marchers to participate in freezing weather.

The problem with the former party in control is that this was unfair handling of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act  (FACE ACT). Have any of you heard about any Pro Life clinics being attacked and people prosecuted? Nope. You won’t find anybody arrested and put in prison. Unbalanced is the word. Another word is weaponization. I watched TV as Trump signed the EO and added, this is a “great honor” in pardoning these people.

Covid has been officially over since May 11, 2023. Since then, 45,000 federal workers were and are working from home. Trump signed an EO demanding they go back to work five days a week in the Federal Office Buildings being paid for by our tax dollars. Only 6% of federal workers had returned to work in the office buildings.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already arrested hundreds of gang members, murderers, human and drug traffickers, suspected terrorists and more. Border Czar, Tom Homan and his minions have been busy rounding up the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens all over the country. From Boston to New York City to San Francisco to St. Paul, Minnesota to Denver, Colorado. Over 500 arrests in one day so far with deportation part of the plan.

The World Economic Forum held in Devos, Switzerland. It was a real pleasure to watch Trump outline that he intends to build up America by offering the lowest tax rates on the planet to any company that wants to do business in America. No longer will he be satisfied with products coming into our country when those countries are not buying our products. They will be faced with tariffs.

In my mind, one of the most important EO’s dates back to the JFK, (1963) RFK and MLK assassinations (1968). For 60 years these documents have been labeled “Classified.”  Those documents are now going to be released. About time!

Then what’s he doing about the Russia-Ukraine war? He’s talking to Putin and twisting his arm to stop the conflict. I wouldn’t want to put bets on which day of the week that will happen, but it’s certainly heading in the right direction.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Israel-Hamas has a temporary ceasefire. Who knows how long that will last, but three women were released Sunday, January 19th and this Saturday another three women are due to be released. Trump wants peace on our planet and decries the waste of human life due to these wars. But, on the other hand, he’s not afraid to go into a conflict if countries are being unreasonable.

INFLATION AND DECREASING GOVERNMENT SPENDING:

This morning I watched as Alaska’s Governor Dunleavy was thankful to Trump for signing EO’s boosting gas and oil drilling. For four years that state has suffered due to 70 EO’s signed by Biden restricting their economic opportunities and lawful access to their land.

By boosting their oil/gas independence once again, that will lower costs and we should be seeing lower gas prices. I don’t know when but I’m pretty confident it will come.

Withdrawing the millions of dollars spent by going to and supporting the Paris Agreement (Climate Accord) saving $1 TRILION and the World Health Organization (WHO) which is an agency of the United Nations. U.S. pays WHO $500 million annually compared to China’s $39 million contribution. We have 341 Million population to China’s 1.4 Billion.

Chinese President Xi Jinping

“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” Trump told the crowd, noting that cutting climate pollution doesn’t work unless everyone does it. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”

Who controls inflation? The Federal Reserve does by controlling interest rates. Lowering interest rates should be the first step.

Then energy and commodities are determined by a number of factors. Growing food takes laborers. Water is imperative and when you have a Governor like Gavin Newsom playing havoc with water for farms, then it’s a big problem. Trump is expected to be in California today and it’s anyone’s guess whether or not he will meet face to face with Newsom. My money is on the meeting taking place. I’m pretty sure Trump would like to yell in Newsom’s face, “You’re fired,” but he may not have to do that as enough Californians are so disgusted with Gov. Hair Gel that a new recall is underway started by a group called Saving California

Just a few minutes ago, The Politicians posted the reasons being given for the recall:

Wildfire response: Criticism of Newsom’s handling of recent wildfires in Los Angeles, which have caused significant destruction, as reported by News 3 Las Vegas and KRCR TV.

Rising costs: Concerns about increasing living expenses, including gas, electricity, and insurance costs, according to Yahoo News.

Crime and homelessness: Allegations of rising crime rates and inadequate addressing of the homelessness crisis, as stated in Yahoo News.

Drug epidemic and border issues: Claims that these problems remain unaddressed, as per PR Newswire.

Misallocation of funds: Accusations that tax money is being directed towards political agendas rather than pressing needs, reported by PR Newswire.

Elon Musk is heading the Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and plans on cutting wasteful government spending. There’s plenty of that. Did you know it costs 3 cents to mint a penny? That cost was $179 million in 2023. Say Bye Bye to the penny. Trump wants DOGE to “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies.” Musk has said the group will aim to trim $500 billion in annual federal spending. 

Elon Musk

WHEW!

That’s not all, folks. But, it’s a good start. I’m feeling excited and relieved. President Trump is inspiring. Changes are taking place and will continue to take place. I especially like him putting America first.