President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that his first week is likely to include mass deportations of illegal immigrants, granting TikTok an extension, signing a "record-setting" number of executive actions, and touring the wildfire damage in Los Angeles.
Speaking to NBC News' Kristen Welker via phone on Saturday, Trump said he will waste no time in implementing his agenda as he readies an inauguration speech for Monday that will emphasize "unity and strength."
Trump began by addressing his decision to shift the inauguration indoors, a move that hasn't been done in 40 years, since former President Ronald Regan accepted his oath of office in 1985. The Washington, D.C., area will be experiencing a high of 20 degrees with blustering winds on Monday.
"I think we made the right decision," Trump said. "The weather was really looking bad in terms of the coldness, and I think it would have been dangerous for a lot of people, the crowds and everything else. So I think we made the right decision. We'll be very comfortable now."
On Sunday, the wildly popular TikTok app will be shut down, but the ban could be brief. Trump said he may issue a 90-day extension after President Joe Biden decided to pass the issue along to the next administration.
"The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate. You know, it's appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It's a very big situation," he said.
"If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."
One of Trump's key campaign issues was the topic of illegal immigration, and he has promised to waste little time in sending criminal migrants back to their country of origin.
Without giving a specific city or date, the president-elect said deportations will begin "very early, very quickly."
"We have to get the criminals out of our country. And I think you would agree with that. I don't know how anyone could not agree," he said.
Following a week of harsh words for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Trump says he plans to tour the ravaged Los Angeles area as Congress debates how much and under what circumstances federal aid should be administered.
"I was going to go, actually, yesterday, but I thought it would be better if I went as president. It's a little bit more appropriate, I suspect," he added.
The war in Ukraine and the pending ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will be top of the president-elect's foreign policy agenda. Trump indicated he is cautiously optimistic that the hostages will be released on schedule but warned of consequences if they weren't.
As the terms of the ceasefire are done in phases, any violation could bring the parties back to square one. Trump said it's critical Hamas understands the new administration.
"Respect. The United States has to get respected again, and it has to get respected fast. But 'respect' is the primary word that I use," he said.
"If they respect us, it will hold. If they don't respect us, all hell will break out."