A new death penalty poll shows 66% of Americans back capital punishment for murder convictions as President Trump moves to widen federal use.
Support for the death penalty is rising again in the United States, with a new death penalty poll showing that 66% of Americans favor capital punishment for people convicted of murder. The increase comes as President Trump moves to broaden federal use of the punishment and several states continue to expand or revive executions.
The Pew Research poll found that 30% of respondents strongly favor the death penalty for convicted murderers and 36% somewhat favor it. On the other side, 20% somewhat oppose it and 13% strongly oppose it. That marks a six-point increase from April 2021, though the overall level is roughly where it stood in August 2020. The survey also found that 68% of Americans consider the death penalty morally justified in murder cases, while 28% disagree.
Even with majority support, Americans remain split on whether capital punishment actually changes behavior. Just 39% said they believe it deters violent crime, while 59% said it does not. The partisan divide was stark throughout the poll. Among Republicans, 84% said they favor the death penalty, compared with 51% of Democrats. On the moral question, 85% of Republicans said it is justified, versus 55% of Democrats. When asked about deterrence, 55% of Republicans agreed, while only 25% of Democrats did.
The Pew Research Center surveyed 3,554 U.S. adults from July 6 through 12. The results capture a broader national debate that has moved in step with crime policy, court rulings, and shifting political priorities. For decades, support for capital punishment has risen and fallen with public concern about violent crime, the death penalty’s use by the states, and the legal limits placed on executions by the courts.
“A new death penalty poll shows 66% of Americans back capital punishment for murder convictions as President Trump moves to widen federal use.”
Trump has pressed to strengthen federal death penalty policy since his first term. Early in his second term, he signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to expand execution methods to include the firing squad and to move death penalty cases faster. The administration has also sought capital punishment more aggressively in cases involving the murder of a law enforcement officer or capital crimes committed by an illegal immigrant. According to Bureau of Justice statistics, death penalty cases currently take nearly 20 years on average.
States have also stepped up activity. Last year, 47 inmates were executed in 11 states, up from 25 in 2024. Florida led the nation with 19 executions, and Gov. Ron DeSantis called the death penalty a strong deterrent and an appropriate punishment for the worst offenders. He also removed Florida’s requirement for a unanimous jury recommendation in capital cases in 2023.
Idaho finished a new $1.2 million execution chamber inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution last month, where eight inmates are awaiting death by firing squad. Last year, Gov. Brad Little signed a bill making Idaho the only state that names the firing squad as its preferred method of execution. Louisiana carried out its first execution in 15 years on March 18, 2025, using nitrogen gas, and Indiana ended a 15-year pause with the May 20, 2025, execution of Benjamin Ritchie, a convicted cop killer who had been on death row since 2002.
The wider history helps explain why the issue still draws sharp reactions. Gallup data cited in the poll shows support was around 61% in 1936, climbed to about 68% by 1953, then fell to a low of 42% in 1966. The Supreme Court effectively halted the death penalty in 1972 before later reaffirming its constitutionality, and public backing surged again in the 1990s as violent crime fears grew. For Americans today, the fight over the death penalty is once again about punishment, deterrence, state power, and how far the government should go in dealing with the most serious crimes.
Frequently asked questions
How much support did the death penalty get in the new poll?
Pew found that 66% of Americans favor capital punishment for people convicted of murder, including 30% who strongly favor it.
Do Americans think the death penalty deters crime?
No clear majority does. The poll found 39% said it deters violent crime, while 59% said it does not.
How did Democrats and Republicans differ?
Republicans were much more supportive than Democrats. The poll found 84% of Republicans favored the Death Penalty, compared with 51% of Democrats.
What changes has Trump pushed at the federal level?
Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to expand execution methods to include the firing squad and to speed up cases.
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