Trump Signs Abortion Orders, Tours Wildfire Damage in LA

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Former President Donald Trump signed two executive orders targeting abortion policies while aboard Air Force One en route to Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. The orders coincided with his visit to assess wildfire devastation in the Pacific Palisades area.

The first order reinstated the Mexico City policy, which bars international NGOs that perform or promote abortions from receiving federal funding. Known as the “global gag rule” by abortion rights advocates, the policy dates back to the 1980s and is typically reinstated by Republican administrations. The second order reaffirmed a federal policy prohibiting the use of U.S. funds for abortions.

Trump’s actions followed his address to thousands of abortion opponents in Washington, D.C., marking the 52nd anniversary of the Supreme Court‘s Roe v. Wade decision, which was overturned in 2022.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Trump toured the fire-ravaged Palisades community, where wildfires have burned over 23,000 acres, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, and claimed at least 11 lives. He pledged to expedite federal permits for rebuilding efforts, stating, “I’m sure you can get it down to not even 18 days.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accompanied Trump, emphasized the need for federal support in recovery efforts, noting the widespread devastation in areas like Altadena and Palisades. Newsom had previously signed a $2.5 billion aid package to expedite cleanup and permitting processes.

Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Mexico escalated as Mexico denied a U.S. military plane carrying deportees access to its airspace. The move comes amid strained relations following Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Mexico over migration issues.

In other developments, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on whether public funds can be used for a religious charter school in Oklahoma, potentially reshaping the separation of church and state in education. Additionally, Trump’s administration announced the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Denali to Mount McKinley, sparking controversy among Indigenous groups and lawmakers.

Trump also signed an executive order to review the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), raising questions about the agency’s future. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman invoked a rarely used provision to deputize state and local police for immigration enforcement, citing a “mass influx” of migrants.

The day’s events underscored Trump’s continued influence on national policy and his administration’s focus on contentious issues, from abortion to immigration and disaster response.