Surge in executions in the US: The return of firing squads and Trump's tough policy

The number of executions in the US surged in 2025 to 47, the highest since 2009, with 31 more carried out since the start of 2026. Florida leads the increase. A shortage of lethal injection drugs is driving a return to older methods like firing squads. Trump is promoting a stricter policy, and a plan to livestream an execution was canceled after controversy.

The number of executions in the United States surged last year to a 16-year high: 47 people were executed in 2025, the highest number since 2009, and 31 more have been executed since the start of 2026. This is according to data published in the Wall Street Journal. Florida accounts for a significant portion of the increase, with 19 executions in 2025 and 17 more in 2026 as of October 13. The rise comes amid President Trump's support for expanding the use of the death penalty, and a shortage of lethal injection drugs leading to a return to older methods such as firing squads and electric chairs. A plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan was canceled after public controversy. The data indicates a gap between government policy and public opinion: according to a 2025 Gallup poll, only 52% of Americans support the death penalty for convicted murderers, the lowest rate since 1972, while a 2026 Pew Research Center poll found 66% support. The gaps are also evident in the political divide: 84% of Republicans support it compared to 51% of Democrats.