USA Trump's Death Penalty Push: A New Era for DC Crime Crackdown

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US President Donald Trump has announced a plan to seek the death penalty for suspected murderers in Washington DC. During a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump described the death penalty as a "preventative" measure to combat what he termed "complete and total lawlessness." This comes as hundreds of National Guard and federal law enforcement officers are deployed in the capital, a strategy Trump might extend to cities like Chicago.

 

Washington's mayor, Muriel Bowser, argues crime has actually decreased, contradicting the President's claims. Trump declared, "If somebody kills somebody in the capital, we're going to be seeking the death penalty," portraying it as a deterrent. While local law generally governs most murder cases in DC, federal prosecution could theoretically apply the death penalty, contingent on jury agreement—a potential hurdle in a city largely opposed to capital punishment.

 

Trump's push follows his reinstatement of the federal death penalty via an executive order in January. Joe Biden's administration had previously paused federal executions. Trump's order calls capital punishment "an essential tool" and cites historical reliance on it for deterring heinous crimes. Although most US executions occur at the state level, Trump's recent comments signal a federal approach despite DC's historical abolition of the death penalty in 1972, reported the BBC.

 

The President's aggressive stance emerges amid approximately 800 National Guard troops patrolling DC, addressing rising homelessness and alleged crime despite local officials disputing the necessity. Mayor Bowser highlighted a significant reduction, claiming a "30-year violent crime low."

 

Trump has hinted at deploying troops to other Democrat-led cities, like Chicago and Baltimore, emphasising, "I'm willing to go to Chicago, which is in big trouble." However, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accuses Trump of "attempting to manufacture a crisis," questioning the President's allegations of urban unrest.

 

This marks another chapter in Trump's administration's tough-on-crime policies, bridging past federal actions with potential new tactics in urban areas. The implication of death penalty enforcement depends on navigating local opposition and logistical barriers, setting the stage for ongoing legal and political debates.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-08-27