Trump Vows to Reinstate D-ath Penalty Following Biden’s Clemencies

Former President Donald Trump has pledged to reinstate the death penalty if he returns to the White House, following President Joe Biden's recent decision to commute the sentences of nearly every federal death row inmate.

Trump, addressing the matter on Truth Social, stated, “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.

We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!” His comments came just a day after Biden announced clemency for 37 out of 40 federal death row prisoners, reclassifying their sentences from execution to life imprisonment.

Biden’s controversial move leaves only three federal death row inmates untouched, including two mass shooters responsible for attacks on a church and synagogue and one of the Boston Marathon bombing perpetrators.

Biden explained that his decision was influenced by concerns that a future administration—specifically Trump’s—might lift the moratorium on federal executions, which Biden's White House had instituted.

“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden clarified in a statement.

However, Biden’s actions sparked outrage among conservatives and victims' rights advocates. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, criticized the clemency as “abhorrent” and “a slap in the face” to victims and their families. “These are among the worst killers in the world, and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones,” Cheung declared.

Trump has long positioned himself as a staunch advocate for harsh penalties, including capital punishment. During his 2024 presidential campaign, he has expressed support for applying the death penalty to a wider range of crimes, including drug trafficking. His team argues that reinstating such measures would restore order and reinforce the rule of law.

The clemency decision has polarized public opinion. While critics have condemned Biden’s actions as overly lenient, advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights praised the move. These organizations view the death penalty as inhumane and disproportionately applied to marginalized groups.

Some of the commuted prisoners had spent over a decade on death row, with crimes including the murders of fellow inmates and prison staff. Biden’s clemency drew attention to the moral and legal complexities surrounding the death penalty, sparking heated debate on both sides of the political spectrum.

As Trump sharpens his rhetoric on law and order ahead of the 2024 election, the clemency issue has become a lightning rod in the broader conversation about justice and public safety. Trump’s vow to reinstate federal executions signals a stark policy reversal that could further define the ideological divide between the two leaders.