As Donald Trump prepares for a potential return to the White House, advocates against the death penalty are bracing for a significant shift in federal policy. Trump’s campaign promises indicate a resurgence of federal executions, which could bring about a new wave of capital punishment cases under his leadership.
Trump’s Plan to Expand the Federal Death Penalty
During his first term, Trump oversaw 13 federal executions, the first in nearly two decades, signaling a tough stance on crime. Now, as he enters his second term, Trump has expressed support for expanding the death penalty’s scope to include human traffickers, drug dealers, and even migrants involved in the deaths of Americans or law enforcement officers. His allies are also advocating for the inclusion of child sex offenders on the federal death row list.
For opponents of capital punishment, this is a cause for concern. Critics argue that the death penalty is disproportionately applied, with biases against people of color and those with mental health issues. Advocacy groups are now pushing President Joe Biden to commute the remaining federal death sentences to prevent further executions, as they fear Trump’s administration will aggressively pursue capital punishment in the coming years.
As debates continue, the question remains whether the U.S. will take meaningful steps toward ending the federal death penalty, or if a new chapter of executions will unfold under Trump’s leadership.
