Former President Donald Trump has been leading the charge to reinstate the death penalty for murder convictions in Washington, DC. This change is the most significant indication yet that he is walking back his law enforcement policy pivot. In the past few months, Trump has publicly pushed for the death penalty with gusto. He even issued several public promises on the subject during a joint address to Congress last March. His administration was also responsible for three federal executions. This move further cemented his legacy as the most pro-death penalty AG between 2017-2021.
Today, in a surprising yet very welcome step towards improving our nation’s public safety, Trump signed an executive order. This order creates a new Colorado National Guard unit to address increasing crime in the state. The goal of the ambitious new initiative would be to restore calm to the nation’s capital — a place he once called a “hellhole” plagued with relentless crime. Local leaders have pushed back against Trump’s claims that crime is on the rise and that his actions are needed.
Trump’s Crime Narrative
His recent comments, unsurprisingly, make it sound like a city drowning in crime. He recently argued that crime rates in Washington, DC are “the worst time in history.” He too touts that his administration has achieved record-breaking arrests over the last few weeks. For example, he said crime in DC was at its highest point in history. For the past 13 days, we’ve faced around-the-clock efforts to bring many of these criminals to justice. Though we have made important strides, far too many are still escaping justice. Over a thousand.
Even in the face of their testimony and challenges from local leaders to his narrative, Trump plows ahead, calling for extreme and radical measures. He emphasized the urgency of the situation by announcing, “If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington, DC, we’re going to be seeking the death penalty. And that’s a very strong preventative, and everybody that’s heard it agrees with it.” More importantly, this declaration represents a 180 degree change in policy. Trump’s goal is to expand the death penalty in order to cover every murder that occurs in the capital.
Justification for Strong Measures
In articulating a defense of his approach, Trump has been roundly attacked for what many have framed as authoritarian moves. Though he took responsibility for this perception, he maintained that his draconian strategies are what it takes to keep crime from exploding. The talking point is that I’m a dictator, but I prevent crime. So then everyone says, Well, you know, if that’s all true, then I’d just prefer a dictator. But I’m not a dictator. But crime, I just know how to stop,” he said.
As part of his overall crime-fighting agenda, Trump pledged to return the death penalty. He fulfilled this promise on day one of his announcement to return to office. He asserted that his administration would direct the Justice Department to pursue capital punishment vigorously against violent offenders, stating: “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.”
Controversial Claims and Legislative Actions
Trump’s assertions about national crime stats and big city mayors reporting, even national guard deployment, have turned heads. Specifically, he claimed Washington’s local government was delivering “fake news” on crime rate statistics without producing supporting proof. This claim has increasingly raised the ire of his administration with local officials. They write that the issue with crime data is much more complicated than what Trump portrays.
During his campaign and presidency, Trump has repeatedly called for a much harsher use of capital punishment. He too is publicly chastising President Joe Biden for not just commuting sentences on federal death row. He reiterated his commitment to making capital punishment an integral part of his law enforcement strategy: “Capital punishment is an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens.”
These recent cases underscore the intense focus on death penalty cases by Trump’s administration. This focus is a fitting touchstone for the contentious conversations around crime policy in America today. Just look at his executive actions. It could not be clearer that there is a strategy here. They double down on law and order rhetoric even when crime is low and public safety concerns predominate political speech.
