The US is witnessing a surge in executions this week, with four scheduled across Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina. Despite concerns over past botched and tortuous executions in Republican-run states, the push for capital punishment has intensified under Donald Trump’s advocacy for the death penalty. This year alone, 19 executions have already taken place, and if the upcoming ones proceed, the total will reach 25 by the end of June, matching the total for all of 2024. Notably, Alabama is set to use nitrogen suffocation for the fifth time, while Florida leads in executions, utilizing controversial methods like etomidate in lethal injections. In Oklahoma, a legal battle surrounds the scheduled execution of John Hanson, highlighting the complexities of capital punishment policies.

The revival of executions in states like South Carolina, where secrecy laws protect suppliers involved in the process, raises ethical concerns. Despite the declining public support for the death penalty, elected officials continue to pursue executions, reflecting a disconnect between policy decisions and public sentiment. While President Joe Biden commuted federal death row sentences, some prosecutors are exploring avenues to reintroduce state charges against commuted individuals. The landscape of capital punishment remains contentious, with human rights advocates warning of potential risks and consequences associated with the current trajectory of executions in the US.