Americans react to Trump’s first week

If President Donald Trump was polarizing during the campaign, his first week back in office was no different.

He was formally sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday before signing hundreds of executive actions, reversing the policies of President Joe Biden’s administration and following through on many promises he made on the campaign trail.

We spoke to 10 Americans from across the political spectrum about how they’re feeling during the week.

Here are the big takeaways.

Not everyone we spoke to was following the events closely, but almost everyone had an opinion on what an unconventional day it was Mimic the weather upside downwith events and crowds moving inside.

Kyle Plessa, 39, independent who voted for Trump: “I felt like I was watching professional wrestling like WWE. Just the hustle, the showmanship, playing for the cameras. You can tell that entertainment is a big part of Donald Trump’s ideology as opposed to if you have Barack Obama or Joe. Biden opened up.”

Greg Bruno, 67, Republican who voted for Trump: “I think Trump proved he’s a man of the people when he threw those pens into the crowd after signing the executive orders in front of 20,000 people. He just showed you who he really works for.”

Richard Will, 74, independent who voted for Kamala Harris: “[His inaugural address] It wasn’t quite as dark as his first speech [in 2017]But it was definitely bitter. “There was nothing that said good things about America.”

Angela Ramos, 37, independent who voted for Harris: “I found a lot of Trump’s rhetoric disingenuous, because he mentioned specific things like justice, honor, integrity, and trustworthiness, but those are not qualities that I think are reflected in his policy or behavior…I watched it with bated breath.” A sense of civic duty.”

During his first week, Trump signed hundreds of executive actions that addressed issues large and small — including immigration and the economy — such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico and releasing files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. You can catch up here.

Larry Case, 47, Republican who voted for Trump: “I was happy [with the executive orders]. There were a lot of them. I couldn’t follow through. “He’s clearly not your average politician. With most politicians, you’ll hear one thing and they’ll do another.”

Tony Flicklin, 69, Republican who voted for Trump: “You can expect behavior from him that will be different from what you normally encounter. But in general, his policies in terms of border protection, economic self-sufficiency, oil and gas, I support them wholeheartedly.”

Greg Bruno, Republican: “That’s why he was elected. Many of these orders are about issues that the American public wants to see implemented. Those are promises that were made during the campaign and he is delivering on them.”

Voters who cast their ballots for Kamala Harris said they did not like many of Trump’s choices, especially on climate, health and his decision to pardon supporters convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Others wondered who might influence Trump’s future actions.

Carlene Jorgensen, 40, independent who voted for Harris: “I didn’t like the fact that the front row was basically CEOs — and you had Elon Musk and… [Jeff] Bezos is in the front row. “For me, that was the feeling: Are we heading toward an oligarchy at this point?”

Angela Ramos, Independent: “What is most troubling to me is the departure from the Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization, simply because our actions have really profound consequences, not just for us within the United States, but for the entire world.”

David Lake, 58, Democrat who voted for Harris: “I felt like he was basically pandering to his base in the action he took with regard to pardoning and commuting the sentences of the January 6 rioters. I felt like that was vindictive and sending the wrong message to the American people.”

Both supporters and detractors said they felt President Trump was approaching his second term with more urgency than his first.

Greg Bruno, Republican: “He came into his first presidency under attack… You put someone on the defensive when you’re under attack like that. This presidency doesn’t have that element. So not only does he come in unattended, he also comes in as someone who is very experienced in how Exercising the authority of the presidency.

Shantonu Mazumdar, 58, Democrat who voted for Harris: “I think he’s become a little bit tougher, a little more militant, it seems. He’s been encouraged, I think, by his constituents and the people who supported him a little bit. I think he’s had a little bit more freedom to express his opinion.” “It will be leaner to the right than it was before.”

Richard Weil, Independent: “I think he’s more focused. I think he’s angrier, more vindictive…but I think he’s turning into a bitter old man. I think he’s changed and I think he’s changed for the worse.”

Tony Flicklin, Republican: “I’m glad he keeps his promises. Sometimes his methods are a little tough. That’s the nature of Donald J. Trump. He’s not going to be a coward about the way he handles things.”