Trump's 'poor', 'slipshod' executive orders potential result of AI use
5 Min Read
Many of Trump's executive orders are noted for their awkward phrasing and frequent errors, raising concerns about their readability and potential legal challenges.
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United States President Donald Trump signs an executive order as he attends an indoor presidential inauguration parade event at Capital One Arena, on January 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
The Independent published an article highlighting how legal experts are attributing the often “slipshod” language of Donald Trump’s numerous executive orders to his suspected reliance on artificial intelligence.
Economist Robert Reich claimed on X that 16 of the orders signed on Trump’s first day in office were “ripped straight from the pages” of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan for the Trump administration, despite Trump’s campaign claims of being unfamiliar with the project.
Many of the orders are noted for their awkward phrasing and frequent errors, raising concerns about their readability and potential legal challenges, as per the article.
Observers have pointed out that such flaws could become significant hurdles if the orders are contested in court, as many are expected to be.
In a Bluesky post, Houston-based appellate lawyer Raffi Melkonian highlighted a section from one of Trump’s executive orders titled Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness. The order included a proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, with language resembling a “grade-school level textbook description,” reminiscent of the generic tone associated with AI-generated content.
“This is poor, slipshod work,” Slate journalist and legal expert Mark Joseph Stern also said of a number of the orders in a Bluesky post, adding that the decrees have been “obviously assisted by AI.”
Trump signs key executive orders, initiating drastic changes
United States President Donald Trump signed a number of executive orders after addressing nearly 20,000 supporters at the Captial One Arena on Monday.
Trump, who had only been inaugurated hours earlier, said he would sign executive orders to stop 80 orders issued by the previous administration. He also said he would pardon those arrested for the January 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol, describing those imprisoned as "hostages".
"Tonight I'm going to be signing on the J6 hostages – pardons to get them out," Trump asserted.
"As soon as I leave, I'm going to the Oval Office and will be signing pardons for a lot of people," he said.
Signed executive orders
Following the speech, Trump sat at a desk in front of his supporters to sign several orders, in an unprecedented move. According to news agencies, the president approved policies to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Change Agreement and end "work from home" for Federal employees, among other decisions.
Trump then began to sign a series of documents when he arrived at the Oval Office. This included memorandums and policies on issues ranging from migration to the economy.
State of emergency at the southern border
Later, Trump declared a "national emergency" at the US southern border, claiming that the border is "overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries, and illicit narcotics."
The executive order signed on the issue will allow for the allocation of personnel, including armed forces, and resources at the border, to assist the Federal government's work. Additional barriers and "unmanned aerial systems" will also be deployed in the area.
Settler terrorism
Among the decisions Trump made was rescinding US sanctions imposed by the Joe Biden administration on far-right Israeli settler groups and individuals for committing violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The White House said Trump rescinded Executive Order 14115 issued on February 1, 2024, which authorized sanctions on "Persons Undermining Peace."
Cuba returned to 'State Sponsors of Terrorism' list
He also re-entered Cuba to a US list labeling countries as "sponsors of terrorism," following a last-minute decision to remove the country from the list by the previous administration.
Withdrawing the US from WHO
The US president proceeded to withdraw the country from the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the international organization of the "inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states."
75-day grace period awarded to TikTok
On the TikTok ban, Trump signed an executive order, allowing his administration 75 days to review an appropriate course of action with regard to the social media platform.
"I hereby order the Attorney General not to take any action on behalf of the United States to enforce the Act for 75 days from the date of this order, to permit my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok," a statement released by the White House read.
Read more: Trump sworn in as 47th US president, vows 'golden age'
