Massachusetts leaders push back on Trump's executive orders
Jan 21, 2025
BOSTON (WWLP) - President Donald Trump has kicked off his second term in office by signing a series of executive orders Tuesday and it is sparking backlash among Democratic leaders, especially from our state.
Senator Markey hosted a roundtable discussion that included Massachusetts's Attorney General, who announced that her office is suing the Trump administration for targeting immigrants.
After one full day into his second term, President Donald Trump has signed off on a series of executive orders, and top Democratic leaders across the country and our state are springing into action.
"Donald Trump is singularly committed to abandoning working people, their future, and our democracy--all for the sake of wealth and power," says Senator Markey.
The Massachusetts Senator held a roundtable with other state officials Tuesday to discuss President Trump's political agenda and the implications it could have on the commonwealth over the next four years.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley added, "Let's have the imagination to envision a more just world, the strategy to bring it to fruition…and the stamina to see it through."
So far, President Trump's executive orders include:
Pardoning nearly 1,500 January 6th insurrectionists
Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord as well as the World Health Organization
Removing gender and racial equity policies
Reversing polices on lower drug prices and weakening the Affordable Care Act
Reinterpreting the 14th Amendment to end birthright citizenship
But that is receiving legal challenges from democratic attorneys across the nation including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell calling this order an egregious overstep of authority. "We won't stand for policies that are cruel, that will target innocent babies, that will target our folks in the immigrant community," said AG Campbell. "Demonize them or suggest that they are all criminals."
Campbell says her office is reviewing and closely monitoring the federal agency's implementation of these orders, adding that she will "use every tool available to protect Massachusetts residents."
Governor Maura Healey is supporting Campbell's move to sue the Trump Administration, saying on social media, quote, "The Constitution is clear — every child born within our borders deserves the same rights and freedoms as anyone else."
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