First pardoned Jan. 6 rioters released in DC

Two Pennsylvania brothers arrested for their role in the riots were released.

President Donald Trump returned from a campaign-style rally at a Washington, D.C., arena to the White House to sign more executive orders, including a sweeping one that pardoned those convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Earlier after taking the oath of office and events at the Capitol, Trump spoke to a roaring crowd at Capital One Arena, where he also signed several executive orders.

After he is through signing the orders, Trump will attend inaugural balls tonight.

Jan 20, 2025, 8:15 PM EST

Trump discovers letter from Biden in Oval Office desk

While signing a slew of executive orders from the Oval Office on Monday night, Trump found a letter that outgoing President Joe Biden had left for him inside the Resolute desk.

Trump found it after Fox News' Peter Doocy asked if he'd been left a letter from Biden.

After joking about reading it aloud to the press, Trump said he would read it privately first.

President Donald Trump holds up outgoing President Joe Biden's letter as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the WHite House in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP

Jan 20, 2025, 7:59 PM EST

Trump pardons approximately 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters

Trump, surrounded by executive orders he planned to sign Monday evening, also signed an order pardoning approximately 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters.

The order also includes six commutations, he said. Though the text of the pardon actually includes 14 commutations.

"We hope they come out tonight. Frankly, they're expecting it," Trump told reporters.

President Donald Trump holds up an executive order commuting sentences for people convicted of Jan. 6 offenses in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP

As of early January, more than 1,580 individuals have been charged criminally in federal court in connection with Jan. 6, with over 1,000 pleading guilty, according to the Department of Justice.

Jan 20, 2025, 7:53 PM EST

Trump signs order declaring national emergency at the southern border

Trump returned to the Oval Office to sign more executive orders at the Resolute desk, including one declaring a national emergency at the southern border.

President Donald Trump speaks to journalists as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
Jim Watson/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Jan 20, 2025, 7:02 PM EST

Trump heading to Oval Office to sign more executive orders

Trump signed several other executive orders before the cheering crowd, including ones freezing federal hiring except for the military and other excluded categories; requiring federal workers to return to full-time, in-person work immediately; restoring the freedom of speech; and directing every federal department to address inflation.

President Donald Trump holds an executive order he just signed during the inaugural parade, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The last order he signed in the arena directs the federal government to end the "weaponization of government against the political adversaries of the previous administration."

Trump tossed several pens into the crowd before leaving to head back to the Oval Office to sign more executive orders.