Trump Vows Aggressive Use of Death Penalty After Biden’s Commutations

 

President-elect Donald Trump has declared his intent to reinstate aggressive use of the death penalty for violent crimes, following President Joe Biden’s commutation of 37 federal death sentences. In a post on Truth Social, Trump pledged to direct the Department of Justice (DoJ) to "vigorously pursue the death penalty" upon his inauguration next month.

“We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!” Trump wrote, emphasizing his commitment to prioritizing public safety and justice for violent offenses.

President Biden, a long-time opponent of the death penalty, commuted the sentences of most prisoners on federal death row, leaving only three capital cases intact. These include Robert Bowers, responsible for the Tree of Life synagogue shooting; Dylann Roof, convicted of the Mother Emanuel AME church massacre; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber.

Biden defended his decision, stating that he could not allow the incoming administration to resume federal executions, a campaign promise Trump had reiterated. During Trump’s first term, 13 federal prisoners were executed, marking a revival of federal capital punishment after nearly two decades.

Biden’s move drew mixed reactions. Advocates for abolishing the death penalty, such as Rev. Sharon Risher, whose relatives were among Roof’s victims, praised the president’s decision but called for further action. “Finish the job,” Risher urged, advocating for the commutation of all death sentences, including those on military death row.

However, critics, including families of victims, expressed anger and disappointment. Marissa Gibson, widow of a slain Ohio police officer, condemned Biden’s decision as a “complete dismissal” of justice, while others like Donnie Oliverio, a partner of another victim, stated that an execution would bring no peace.

Trump seized on the controversy to amplify his stance, criticizing Biden for what he described as an inexplicable and devastating decision. “When you hear the acts of these killers, you won’t believe that he did this,” Trump said, accusing Biden of neglecting the victims’ families.

While Trump cannot reverse Biden’s commutations, his statements signal a stark policy shift from his predecessor’s approach. By vowing to reinstate and rigorously enforce the death penalty, Trump aims to solidify his administration’s focus on law and order, a recurring theme throughout his campaign.

The renewed debate over capital punishment underscores deep divisions in public opinion and policy regarding the use of the death penalty in the United States. As the nation braces for the transition of power, the issue is likely to remain at the forefront of political and social discourse.