Donald Trump is already making some sweeping changes in his second term as President of the United States.
The 78-year-old, whose first term ends in 2021, was sworn in yesterday, January 20, as America’s 47th president.
At the event, Elon Musk was compelled to deny allegations that he performed a “Nazi” salute, and Trump’s wife Melania wore a striking headgear that sparked conspiracy theories.
Trump has signed several executive orders since taking office, including one pertaining to the death sentence.
Since 2021, a moratorium on federal executions has been in force, after just three convicts remain on federal death row when former Democratic President Joe Biden changed 37 of their sentences to life in prison.
In the executive order, which aren’t required to be approved by Congress, Trump has blamed the former president for ‘commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 most vile and sadistic rapists, child molesters, and murderers on Federal death row: remorseless criminals who brutalised young children, strangled and drowned their victims, and hunted strangers for sport’.
“Judges who oppose the death penalty have also disregarded the law by falsely claiming that the death penalty is unconstitutional, even though the Constitution explicitly acknowledges the legality of the death penalty,” the statement added.
‘Capital punishment is a crucial weapon for deterring and punishing those who would conduct the most egregious crimes and acts of fatal violence against American civilians,’ according to the directive issued by Trump.
When the Trump administration was first in charge from 2017 to 2021, it carried out 13 federal executions during – more than under any president in modern history, Associated Press writes.
“Before, during, and after the founding of the United States, our cities, States, and country have continuously relied upon capital punishment as the ultimate deterrent and only proper punishment for the vilest crimes,” the decree stated.
“Our Founders knew well that only capital punishment can bring justice and restore order in response to such evil. For this and other reasons, capital punishment continues to enjoy broad popular support.”
“Yet for too long, politicians and judges who oppose capital punishment have defied and subverted the laws of our country.”
“At every turn, they seek to thwart the execution of lawfully imposed capital sentences and choose to enforce their personal beliefs rather than the law.”
It added: “The Government’s most important responsibility is to safeguard its citizens from terrible conduct.”
“And my Administration will not tolerate efforts to stymie and eviscerate the laws that authorise capital punishment against those who commit horrible acts of violence against American citizens.”
The Attorney General “must take all necessary and lawful action to ensure that each state that allows the death penalty has a sufficient supply of drugs needed to carry out lethal injection,” according to the directive.
