President Biden's decision to commute the sentences of nearly all federal death row inmates ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media and among Republican lawmakers. The president altered the sentences of 37 out of approximately 40 inmates to life in prison without parole. This move has been met with a mix of disbelief and anger.

Several prominent figures voiced their disapproval on social media. Florida's Voice assistant news director, Eric Daugherty, questioned the rationale behind commuting the sentences of individuals convicted of serious crimes. Townhall senior columnist Kurt Schlicter criticized the decision as inconsistent and a disgrace, highlighting the fact that a few inmates' sentences were not commuted. Author Miranda Devine called the move performative, contrasting it with the president's stance on abortion.

Republican lawmakers also expressed outrage. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas condemned the decision as siding with criminals over victims and public order. He also pointed out the seeming inconsistency of the move, given that some high-profile death sentences were not commuted. Congressman Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania described the decision as outrageous and reflective of a flawed ideology.

The three inmates whose sentences remain unchanged are Robert Bowers, convicted of the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting; Dylann Roof, responsible for the 2015 Charleston church shooting; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the perpetrators of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

According to a White House statement, Biden, who supports capital punishment only for terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder at the federal level, explained that the commutations aim to prevent the Trump administration from carrying out executions under policies that would not be applied currently. Fox News contributor Byron York questioned the timing and selectivity of the commutations.

The list of inmates whose sentences were commuted includes individuals convicted of various heinous crimes, such as carjacking, kidnapping, and murder. Among them are Marcivicci Barnette, Brandon Basham, Chadrick Fulks, Anthony Battle, Jason Brown, Thomas Hager, David Runyon, Thomas Sanders, Rejon Taylor, and Alejandro Umana.