President Trump’s second term is coming into much sharper focus in its first 72 hours — delighting his supporters but ringing loud alarm bells for liberal Americans.

Trump has been delivering on the “shock and awe” approach that his allies promised.

The first president since the 19th century to serve nonconsecutive terms, Trump has used his newly regained powers to declare a national emergency at the southern border; designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations; assail diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government; withdraw from the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization; and rescind almost 80 policies enacted by his predecessor, former President Biden.

Most controversially of all, Trump pardoned almost all the people convicted of offenses related to the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, and commuted the sentences of the remainder.

The actions cover several people convicted of seditious conspiracy, a larger number convicted of assaulting or obstructing law enforcement officers and a grand total — including those still facing charges — of more than 1,500 people. About 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot, which had been inflamed in large part by Trump's false claims of election fraud.

Even many Republicans seemed unenthused by Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) telling reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday he would not “second guess” the commander in chief.

“We’re not looking........

© The Hill