On September 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order in the Oval Office, directing federal prosecutors to aggressively pursue the death penalty in Washington, D.C. This move, which Trump described as a necessary escalation in his administration’s ongoing campaign to crack down on violent crime, has set off a firestorm of debate across the nation’s capital and beyond.
The order, officially titled "Enforcing the Death Penalty Laws in the District of Columbia to Deter and Punish the Most Heinous Crimes," instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro to seek capital punishment "in all appropriate cases," and to assert federal jurisdiction over crimes in D.C. whenever possible. Trump, now 79, made his intentions clear as he signed the proclamation, declaring, "Capital punishment, capital city." He added, "We can’t allow that to happen. People come in from Iowa to look at the Lincoln Memorial, and they end up getting killed. Doesn’t happen anymore. It’s not going to happen. And if it does happen, it’s the death penalty for the person that did it." (BBC News, FOX 5 DC)
This order builds on a previous executive action Trump issued immediately after the start of his second term in January 2025, which sought to "restore" the death penalty nationally. In his written statement, Trump argued, "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." (BBC News)
The president’s latest directive comes on the heels of a highly publicized crime that shook the city in August. A 15-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty this week to charges stemming from the beating of 19-year-old Edward “Big Balls” Coristine near Dupont Circle. The incident, which involved an attempted carjacking and left Coristine bloodied, was cited by Trump as justification for a temporary federal takeover of D.C. law enforcement and the deployment of 800 National Guardsmen. Elon Musk, who previously led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) where Coristine worked, publicly praised Coristine for intervening to protect a woman during the attack. Trump himself posted a photo of Coristine after the assault, using it to highlight what he called a "crime emergency" in the capital. (CNN, FOX 5 DC)
During the 30-day federal intervention, Washington, D.C. experienced a 12-day stretch without a single homicide—a fact Trump touted as evidence of the success of his approach. "This went from the most unsafe city in the country to the safest city in the country," he claimed. However, according to FBI data from 2024, D.C. was not the most dangerous city in the United States, and police statistics actually show that violent crime, including carjackings, declined in the city in 2025 compared to the previous year. (FOX 5 DC, CNN)
The death penalty itself has a fraught history in Washington, D.C. The city abolished capital punishment in 1981 when the D.C. Council voted to repeal it. Trump’s attempt to reimpose it by executive order—especially in a jurisdiction that has not supported the death penalty for over four decades—has raised significant legal and constitutional questions. As one skeptical social media user put it, "Can the death penalty be reinstated by EO? Seems weird?" Another added, "So is our government now just run by executive order. Does congress have any role anymore?" (BBC News)
Attorney General Bondi, for her part, underscored the administration’s broader ambitions. "Not only are we seeking it in Washington, DC, but all over the country—again," she said, signaling a nationwide push for capital punishment under federal law. (BBC News)
Reactions to the president’s move have been deeply divided. Local advocacy group Free DC condemned the order as a "pathetic" power grab. In a statement shared on social media, they wrote, "Trump wants all of us to be afraid because it's the only tool he has. …This Executive Order is designed to spread fear and foremost. That's something we know authoritarians always do. His actions are not about safety, they are only about him consolidating power." (FOX 5 DC)
Others on social media echoed concerns about justice, due process, and the potential for wrongful executions. "Accountability matters—but calling for executions without due process is a dangerous road. Justice must be fair, not vengeful," one user wrote. Another warned, "You must be very careful using the death penalty. SO MANY innocents have died because of crooked DA’s and other corrupt officials." The high costs and lengthy legal battles associated with capital punishment were also cited as reasons for skepticism: "Go do some research on how many people are actually put to death, the exorbitant costs, and the length of the cases; you’ll see this is a waste of time and money." (BBC News)
Yet, the move has its supporters. Some argue that the threat of the death penalty is necessary to deter violent crime and ensure justice for victims. "Eye for an eye. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to watch people kill others and just go to jail to live off taxpayer dollars for the rest of their life, if they even get life in prison nowadays," one supporter commented. Another suggested that a tough-on-crime approach would have positive economic effects: "This has been needed for years...as the murder rates drop big time the prices of real estate in the area will go up...whats not to like?" (BBC News)
Legal experts and civil-liberties advocates have flagged the constitutional complexities of Trump’s approach. The use of federal forces in local policing roles, as seen during the National Guard deployment, raises questions about statutory limits and the city’s right to self-governance. Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have seized on the public outcry over the Coristine case to push for tougher juvenile-crime measures, while local leaders have warned against substituting federal control for the city’s hard-won home rule. (CNN)
With the emergency order now expired and the National Guard still present in the city, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has sought to reassure residents and visitors alike. She told reporters, "We think that there’s more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system, that is driving down illegal behavior." (CNN)
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the federal intervention and the implications of Trump’s executive order, the debate over the death penalty—and the proper balance between public safety, civil liberties, and local autonomy—shows no signs of abating. While Trump’s supporters hail his efforts as overdue and necessary, critics warn of dangerous precedents and the erosion of democratic norms. For now, Washington, D.C. stands at the center of a national reckoning over crime, punishment, and the reach of executive power.
