Donald Trump will demonstrate his presidential power from day one, seeking to radically change America's course by Monday evening.

On this cold day of his inauguration as the 47th president, Trump plans a storm of tough executive actions on immigration, energy production, transgender athletes and pardoning the January 6 protesters.

His inaugural show of strength will set the tone for a second term anchored in Trump's strongman persona and vision of an all-powerful presidency, aimed at making intense changes at home and abroad.

But before taking office, outgoing President Joe Biden used executive power that reflected an ambiguous national moment, granting preemptive pardons to public servants who were considered potential targets of Trump's vows to seek revenge against his opponents.

The list includes former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, the nation's former top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of Congress and staff who served on the committee investigating the January 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol.

The apologies, which Biden stressed showed no wrongdoing, also included those for the police officers who testified before the panel.

Trump is no longer a populist, nationalist aberration in a long line of post-World War II presidents who all operated on similar assumptions about America’s role in the world. His victory in November, making him only the second president to win non-consecutive terms, means he is a significant historical figure – whatever happens over the next four years.

And Trump scored two big victories even before he took office. First, three hostages were released by Hamas to Israel on Sunday as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza attributed to his arrival in office. Then, Trump, at least for now, rescued TikTok, which was briefly shut down to comply with a federal ban imposed over fears that the social media site could be manipulated by China.

Each advance has demonstrated Trump's gift for showmanship and his penchant for personal, improvisational use of presidential power. Since his November election victory, he has changed the domestic and global political dynamic after months of President Biden's retreat from the stage.

But in the cases of TikTok and the Middle East, Trump's initial "victories" on Sunday will soon give way to much more complex negotiations and decisions that will require intense presidential engagement and the far-sighted strategic wisdom he has not always provided during his first term.