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Trump Reverses Course: Hasan Execution Won't Be Livestreamed
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump announced that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, will not be livestreamed, reversing his earlier stance.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, will not be livestreamed, despite earlier plans to do so.
Trump said, 'With all of that being said, I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device.'
Hasan, a former Army major, was sentenced to death in 2013 for killing 13 people and injuring 32 others at Fort Hood Army base in 2009.
The execution, scheduled for December 3, will be the first military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since World War II.
Trump also stated that the immediate families of the victims will be able to view the execution in person if they choose.
The decision to not livestream the execution was made after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced last week that the event would be livestreamed, calling it a 'no brainer' that would be symbolic.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Texas Catholic bishops issued a joint statement urging the president to reconsider the decision, characterizing it as 'barbarically killing our adversaries.'
A YouGov poll found that 69% of respondents opposed broadcasting executions to the public, including 52% of Republicans, 67% of independents, and 87% of Democrats.
The Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that Trump and Hegseth spoke about the decision to not livestream Hasan’s execution before Trump’s statement.
The public killing would have been the first of its kind in the US since 1936, with successive administrations criticizing foreign governments for conducting such executions.
What this adds
The execution will not be livestreamed, despite earlier plans to do so.
A majority of MAGA men (57%) supported livestreaming the execution, while a majority of MAGA women (69%) opposed it.
Background
The execution, set for December 3, will be the first military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since World War II.
The Pentagon announced it will livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of killing 13 people in 2009.
What's confirmed
- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth previously announced that Trump had approved Hasan's execution by firing squad and that the event would be streamed for the public to see.
- "That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose. They deserve to witness JUSTICE!" he said.
- "With all of that being said, I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device" Trump also said.
- President Donald Trump said Thursday the military will not livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the U.S.
- “He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” the president said, adding that family members of Hasan’s victims will be able to view the Dec. 3 execution in person.
- Coakley saying the move was a “barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.” Other top Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., voiced similar sentiments.
- Download the Straight Arrow app today to get the stories that matter free from manipulation, bias or agenda.™ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Hasan’s execution would be livestreamed last week, saying it was a “no brainer” that would be symbolic.
- “First of all, I’ve seen these announcements. I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen…Now, that said, I mean, look, if it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it,” Vance had said.
- “The Secretary supports the President’s decision, and they are completely aligned,” Parnell said.
What's still developing
- Trump had previously said he approved of showing the death of the Fort Hood attacker, while Vice-President JD Vance cast doubt on whether it would happen and said he would not watch it.
- According to Amnesty International, 11 public executions were known to have been carried out in Iran in 2025 and another six in Afghanistan.
- Read More: Are Firing Squad Executions Seeing a Revival in the U.S.?
- “Well, they’re making a determination about that,” Trump said Friday when asked about the livestream.
- However, a majority of MAGA men (57%) supported livestreaming the execution, while a majority of MAGA women (69%) opposed it.
Sources
- Justthenewslink
- NBC Newslink
- Oannlink
- Newsdaylink
- Sanlink
- BBClink
- Ewtnnewslink
- The Indian Expresslink
- Timelink
- Durangoheraldlink
- Washingtontimeslink
- Catholicreviewlink
- Al Jazeeralink
- The Guardianlink
- WarpBeat — background on US to Livestream Hasan's Execution by Firing Squad link
- WarpBeat — background on Pentagon to Livestream Fort Hood Shooter's Execution by Firing Squad link
- CBS News — video link