Support for the death penalty rises to two-thirds of Americans amid Trump’s push

According to a Pew Research Center poll of 3,554 U.S. adults taken July 6-12, 66% now favor the death penalty for convicted murderers, a six-point rise since 2021 and roughly matching levels from 2020. Support splits along party lines: 84% of Republicans back capital punishment compared with 51% of Democrats, and Republicans are also more likely to view it as morally justified and as a crime deterrent. The survey showed 68% consider the penalty morally justified, while only 28% disagree, and 39% believe it deters violent crime versus 59% who disagree.

The findings come as President Trump has issued an executive order expanding execution methods, including the firing squad, and several states such as Florida, Idaho and Louisiana have increased executions or changed sentencing rules. The overall trend reflects a modest uptick in public approval amid ongoing political and legislative debates over capital punishment.