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A second Trump term was promised as less chaotic and more competent, with a refined team and policy focus. His administration would leverage pre-prepared policy documents from Washington think tanks.
However, the initial days revealed this claim to be false. Despite purported readiness, the early executive orders were marred by numerous errors: formatting inconsistencies, typos, internal contradictions, and inconsistent numbering.
Numerous executive orders, released initially with significant formatting issues (bolding, oversized text, duplicated passages, repeated numbering), were subsequently corrected on the White House website. Social media highlighted these flaws.
Some errors went beyond simple typos. One order, intending to restrict gender recognition to biological sex at birth, inadvertently implied all fetuses are initially female. Another order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, effective January 27, stranded vetted refugees before the cut-off date.
Trump’s first term also saw similar issues, yet he issued over 200 executive orders. This pattern appears set to continue, given the current pace and ambition.
Beyond written orders, Trump’s statements remain unreliable. He incorrectly claimed Spain was part of the BRICS alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), demonstrating a disregard for accuracy.
This casual approach to detail seems intentional. Voters elected Trump based on a certain attitude, rather than an expectation of meticulous governance. His focus on high-profile events like disaster recovery visits prioritizes image over bureaucratic precision.
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