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President Donald Trump faced severe scrutiny on his first full day in office following a tumultuous weekend wherein his press secretary and head advisor defended falsified claims about the number of attendees at his inauguration.

Trump signed three executive actions on Monday afternoon, including withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans Pacific-Partnership deal, a freeze on federal hiring and an order that bars foreign aid recipients or non-governmental agencies from supporting abortion, NBC News reports.

TPP, a hallmark of the Obama administration, was heavily debated among Democrats and Republicans examining the level of effectiveness in strengthening economic ties with Asian countries.

The announcement spurred commentary from both sides of the aisle.

“I am glad the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead and gone,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said, according to NBC. Sanders vowed to work with the President on new policies that will help American workers.

The federal freeze applies to current government vacancies, excluding jobs critical to health and safety. Trump noted an exception for military vacancies, NBC News reports.

Following in the footsteps of his Republican predecessors Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, Trump reinstated the “Mexico City policy,” a gag order of sorts against international groups that receive U.S. federal funding from disseminating information in support of abortion.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer fiercely defended Trump’s orders on Monday and also weighed in on his explosive comments defending the idea that Donald Trump’s inauguration was the most watched inauguration ceremony in history.

“I believe that we have to be honest with the American people. I sometimes we can disagree on the facts. There are some things we may not fully understand when we come out, but our intention is never to lie to you,” Spicer said.

SOURCE: NBC News

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