Trump says Biden commuting death-row sentences 'devastating' to families, will pursue death penalty

GOP President-elect Donald Trump in a series of social media posts Tuesday responded to President Joe Biden a day earlier commuting the sentences of 37 or 40 death row inmates, saying relatives and friends of the victims are "further devastated" by the decision.

"Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country," Trump posted on Truth Social. "When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!"

In a second post, Trump wrote: "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!"

The move by Biden, who has just weeks left in office before Trump takes over as president, protects the 37 from capital punishment, of which Trump is a proponent. 

Biden "believes that America must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level, except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder – which is why today’s actions apply to all but those cases," the White House said in fact sheet Monday regarding the decision. 

"When President Biden came into office, his Administration imposed a moratorium on federal executions, and his actions today will prevent the next Administration from carrying out the execution sentences that would not be handed down under current policy and practice."