President Donald Trump has removed Admiral Linda Fagan, the first woman to lead a United States military service, as the head of the Coast Guard.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard, did not immediately comment on Fagan’s dismissal, AFP reports.

The sack came less than 24 hours after the inauguration ceremony of the 47th US President at the Capitol, on Monday.

“She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service,” acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a message Tuesday to the Coast Guard.

Fox News cited a senior official saying reasons for her removal included her failure to address border security threats, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and an “erosion of trust” over the Coast Guard’s investigation into sexual assault cases.

Another official cited alleged “leadership deficiencies.”

A senior official from the DHS was far more critical, saying Fagan was dismissed “because of her leadership deficiencies, operational failures, and inability to advance the strategic objectives of the US Coast Guard.”

“The admiral failed to address border security threats, mismanaged acquisitions, including helicopters, and put ‘excessive focus’ on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Trump and other Republicans have long railed against government programmes aimed at fostering diversity.

Also, border security is a key priority for Trump’s administration, as he declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on Monday, the first day of his new term of office.

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s yet-unconfirmed nominee to head the Defense Department, said last week that senior officers “will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders,” indicating that further dismissals are possible.

Fagan had led the Coast Guard since 2022, and previously held posts including vice commandant of the service.

“She served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way,” an archived version of her biography, which is no longer available on the Coast Guard website, revealed.

Where in the world is Melania Trump? Back in Washington in a sharply tailored outfit that exudes international woman of mystery as her husband once again becomes president of the United States.

Wearing a long navy coat and matching wide-brimmed hat — which shielded her eyes in most photos and hindered her commander-in-chief husband’s attempts to give her a peck before his swearing-in — Melania’s fit drew snark on social media and a flurry of comparisons to a 1980s video game character.

“Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?” quipped the internet, referring to the franchise that spun off into a popular 1990s geography game show for kids, and featured a criminal mastermind dressed in a long, carmine trench coat and eye-obscuring fedora.

Melania Trump’s coat and skirt were silk wool Adam Lippes, an independent American designer based in New York, an ensemble paired with an ivory blouse tightly wrapped at the Slovenian-born former model’s neck.

“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump,” said Lippes in a statement that emphasized American manufacturing over political ideology.

“Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”

The hat was by New York milliner Eric Javits.

“She cut the figure of a mafia widow or high-ranking member of an obscure religious order, and a bit of ‘My Fair Lady,’ wrote Rachel Tashjian, style critic for The Washington Post.

– ‘Armor’ –

American first ladies don’t get much of a voice — but their sartorial choices are broadcast to the world and scrutinized for subtext and statements.

The late Rosalynn Carter, for example, drew strong reactions by wearing a dress she had already worn — gasp! — when her husband Jimmy was inaugurated in 1977.

The point was to show empathy for the economic struggles of Americans — but sometimes what the people really want is aspirational glamour.

In recent years first ladies have routinely turned to independent designers for inaugural events: in 2021, Jill Biden wore a sparkling blue coat-and-dress combo by Markarian, a small brand in New York.

Michelle Obama made waves in 2009 in a lemon-colored outfit by Isabel Toledo, wearing Thom Browne at her husband’s second swearing-in. She wore gowns by Jason Wu to both series of inaugural balls.

Melania Trump, for her part, channeled Jackie Kennedy to kick off her first turn in the White House, wearing Ralph Lauren — a heritage-brand favorite on both sides of the political aisle — to the daytime events in 2017.

She swapped her powder-blue cashmere dress and matching asymmetrical bolero jacket with opera gloves for a silk crepe gown by Herve Pierre that year, both looks that signaled a sense of buoyancy as she began her new role as a political wife.

Her shadowy-chic 2025 look marks a sharp departure as she enters tenure two.

“For her second round as first lady, the fashion game — the tool she brandishes most often and most forcefully, even if the public sometimes struggles to divine her sartorial messages — is likely to be one of steely, precise armor, of clothes with brash and exacting tailoring,” wrote the Post’s Tashjian.

“For the past year, she has worn a wardrobe of mostly black, but this does not seem intended to make her disappear into the background.”

Michael Jackson comparison on social media

Melania’s latest outfit has sparked a flurry of reactions online, quickly going viral across social media platforms.

While some praised her bold fashion choice, others couldn’t resist drawing comparisons to the late Michael Jackson.

One X user humorously remarked, “Is it just me… or is Melania trying to imply that Trump is a ‘smooth criminal’ with this outfit choice?”

Echoing a similar sentiment, another user chimed in: “Melania is dressed like Michael Jackson, and she is killing it! Smooth criminal but more classy lol.”

Margelis Tinoco broke down in tears after her asylum appointment was canceled as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown announced by US President Donald Trump on his first day in office.

“I don’t know what will become of my life anymore,” said the 48-year-old Colombian, who made the long and dangerous journey from South America with her husband and son.

Trump began his second term in office with a series of announcements intended to drastically reduce the number of migrants entering the United States.

He vowed to declare a national emergency at the border with Mexico, immediately halt “all illegal entry” and begin the process of deporting “millions and millions of criminal aliens.”

Minutes after he was sworn in, an app introduced by his predecessor Joe Biden to help process claims for entering the United States went offline.

“Look what it says,” Tinoco said, pointing to a message on her cellphone screen informing users of CBP One that existing appointments had been canceled.

“Have compassion and let us cross,” she pleaded, saying that she had endured “six months of suffering” after leaving Venezuela where she had been living with her family.

Yaime Perez, a 27-year-old Cuban, also made an emotional appeal to Trump.

“Since we are here, please let us in, please, after all the work we have put in to get here, let us enter your country, so that we can better ourselves in life and be somebody,” she said.

Antony Herrera arrived at the border with his wife and three children after a long journey from their native Venezuela only to discover that their appointment had been canceled.

“We don’t know what is going to happen,” said the 31-year-old, one of millions of people who have left crisis-hit Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated this month for a third term after a disputed election victory.

– Caravan heads for border –

During his first term in the White House from 2017 to 2021, Trump put heavy pressure on Mexico to turn back a tide of migrants from Central America.

On Monday, he quickly moved to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy that prevailed under his last administration.

Under that rule, people who applied to enter the United States at the Mexican border were not allowed to enter the country until their application had been decided.

Mexico agreed during Trump’s first term to receive deportees from other countries in exchange for the Republican withdrawing his tariff threats.

It is unclear if the current Mexican government would do the same this time round.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that Mexico would receive its own deported nationals, without mentioning how it would proceed with other foreigners expelled from the United States.

Congratulating Trump on his inauguration, she called for “dialogue, respect and cooperation” between the closely connected neighbors.

In southern Mexico, hundreds of US-bound migrants ignored Trump’s warnings and set off on foot from near the border with Guatemala.

The caravans are a way for migrants to pressure the Mexican authorities to issue permits allowing them to transit through the country without being detained.

“I’m a little scared because with everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve fought for, with all the sacrifices we’ve made, it’s very hard to have the doors closed on us and not be able to cross,” said Jefferzon Celedon, a 24-year-old Venezuelan.

Despite the gloomy mood, fellow Venezuelan Leonel Delgado said he was still determined to reach the Mexican-US border.

“We have to keep going and not be swayed by what people say, whether they close it or not. We will see when we arrive,” the 42-year-old said.