FORT LAUDERDALE (Florida)

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment following President Joe Biden’s commutation of most federal death row sentences. Biden’s decision to reduce the sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates to life without parole aimed to align with his administration’s moratorium on federal executions, except in cases of terrorism or hate-motivated mass murder. Trump sharply criticized Biden’s move as “senseless” and disrespectful to victims’ families.

“Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Trump pledged to direct the Justice Department to seek the death penalty for “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters” once he assumes office, though he offered few specifics.

Historically, U.S. presidents have avoided direct involvement in criminal case sentencing decisions. However, Trump has consistently sought greater influence over the Justice Department. He highlighted the cases of two individuals whose death sentences were commuted by Biden despite their admitted involvement in multiple murders.

During his campaign, Trump frequently advocated for expanding the federal death penalty, including for crimes such as killing police officers, drug and human trafficking, and crimes committed by migrants against U.S. citizens. Douglas Berman, a sentencing expert at Ohio State University, noted that while Trump’s commitment to the death penalty is clear, implementing such policies faces significant legal and practical challenges.

Public opinion on capital punishment has shifted over the decades. While about half of Americans supported the death penalty in a recent Gallup poll, this represents a decline from the roughly 70% approval seen in 2007. Despite the federal focus, most death penalty cases are handled by states, which have sentenced over 2,000 individuals to death compared to the 40 previously on federal death row.