President Donald Trump announced on October 10 that the execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed, reversing an earlier Pentagon decision to broadcast the event publicly. The execution, scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, will proceed via firing squad—the first use of this method by the U.S. military since World War II and the first military execution since 1961.
Hasan, a former U.S. Army major, was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, which he described as an act of jihad. The Pentagon had confirmed on October 5 that Trump approved the execution and that the event would be livestreamed, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating it would be made "public" to emphasize "serious consequences" for such acts. However, Trump’s Truth Social post on October 10 stated that while Hasan "will die, as scheduled, by firing squad," the event "will not be streamed."
Public Viewing Limited to Victims’ Families
The execution may be attended in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they choose, according to Trump. He added that streaming the execution "might have been a strong deterrent" but acknowledged that "many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die."
Military Preparations and Historical Context
The U.S. military has not carried out an execution since 1961, when Army Private John A. Bennett was executed by lethal injection. The last firing squad execution in the military occurred in 1945. Internal documents reviewed by ABC News indicate officials had prepared for lethal injection if Trump had authorized an execution, but the firing squad method was ultimately selected.
Public and Political Reactions
A poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos found that 80% of Americans oppose livestreaming Hasan’s execution, including majorities across partisan lines: 91% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 64% of Republicans. Even among those who support Hasan’s execution by firing squad, 69% oppose livestreaming. Vice President JD Vance stated he was unsure whether a livestream would occur and that he would not watch it if it did.
Concerns Over Broadcast Impact
Officials cited in ABC News reporting raised concerns that broadcasting the execution could fuel anti-American propaganda, particularly among Islamic extremist groups. The Pentagon maintained as of October 8 that the livestream would proceed, with a Defense official stating, "The Secretary is correct. It will be live streamed."
Hasan’s case remains one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. military installation in modern history. His execution date is set for December 3 at Fort Hood, where the 2009 shooting occurred.