Trump’s first presidency saw bigotry, xenophobia and white supremacist rhetoric

Biden presidency’s final weeks should include commuting federal death sentences, rescinding the asylum ban and border shutdown, and closing Guantánamo 

‘The world is watching, and Amnesty will be holding president-elect Trump and the US government accountable’ - Paul O’Brien

Amnesty International has vowed to defend human rights during Donald Trump’s second term as US president.

Amnesty today reminded president-elect Trump and all elected officials across the USA of their obligations to respect, protect and fulfill human rights in their policies and approaches, at home and around the world. 

During Donald Trump’s first presidential administration, Amnesty documented extensive damage to human rights, including efforts to redefine human rights, and the organisation stands ready to defend human rights in Trump’s second presidential term.

Protecting human rights in the United States means ending gun violence and guaranteeing adequate healthcare for all, including abortion, said Amnesty. And it means respecting the rights of protesters, as well as migrants and people seeking asylum. Protecting human rights also means demanding that other countries’ governments - including US allies - stop violating human rights, ensuring that US support does not enable violations of human rights or humanitarian law. 

Amnesty has today also welcomed the passage of eight out of the 11 state-based referendums to protect access to abortion, including in Arizona, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska.

Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International USA’s Executive Director, said: 

“Donald Trump’s first term as president ushered in policies and actions marked by bigotry, xenophobia and white supremacist rhetoric, and led to extensive human rights violations.

“This second term must be different, and Amnesty International will continue to fight for everyone’s human rights to be respected.

“The passage of state-based referendums to protect abortions is a win for human rights.

“President-elect Trump has advocated for restricted access to abortion and harsh punishments. Our fight for reproductive rights is now more urgent than ever.

“The Trump administration and all elected officials must meet their international human rights obligations, defined in treaties signed and ratified by the US.

“Our members, supporters and activists here in the United States and across the world will work to hold the Trump administration and all newly-elected US officials accountable.

“The world is watching, and Amnesty will be holding president-elect Trump and the US government accountable to their obligations.”

Biden presidency

As he closes out his term, Amnesty is urging President Biden to take urgent steps on human rights in the last weeks before his legacy is sealed. This includes commuting the death sentences of all people on federal death row, establishing a commission to examine reparations for slavery, rescinding the asylum ban and border shutdown, granting clemency and freeing Indigenous elder and activist Leonard Peltier, and closing the notorious Guantánamo detention centre. Amnesty also reiterates its call for President Biden to immediately stop all arms transfers to the government of Israel to protect civilians and ensure US weapons are not being used in violation of international law. President Biden and the current Congress must do everything in their power to bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and the safe return of all remaining hostages.