Trump’s Plan to Reinstate Federal Death Penalty Sparks Heated Debate
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President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to restore capital punishment on the federal level, sharply criticizing President Joe Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without parole. Trump called the move “senseless” and an insult to victims’ families, promising to “vigorously pursue” the death penalty for violent crimes, including murder, rape, and human trafficking, once in office.

Biden’s decision aligns with his moratorium on federal executions, reserving capital punishment for terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder cases. Advocacy groups, including the ACLU, have applauded Biden’s efforts, while some victims’ families expressed anger over what they see as a lack of justice.
The Debate: Rhetoric or Action?
While Trump has long championed the death penalty, experts question the feasibility of his promises. “Expanding federal executions would face significant legal and political hurdles,” said Douglas Berman, a sentencing expert.
Public opinion on the death penalty has shifted over the years, with Gallup reporting only half of Americans now support it—a sharp decline from the 70% approval seen in 2007.

Highlighted Cases
Trump spotlighted the commutations of Jorge Avila Torrez, convicted of multiple murders, including the brutal killing of two young girls, and Thomas Steven Sanders, sentenced for the slayings of a woman and her 12-year-old daughter. Both cases have reignited calls for harsher punishments.
What’s Next?
Trump’s vision includes revisiting laws that currently prevent the death penalty for crimes like rape and expanding federal jurisdiction in state-level cases. However, such changes would face years of legal battles and legislative scrutiny.
What do you think? Is capital punishment a necessary tool for justice or an outdated practice?