Trump cancels livestream of Fort Hood execution after criticism

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the convicted shooter in the 2009 Fort Hood attack, will not be livestreamed. The decision reverses a plan by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to broadcast the event, which had drawn significant criticism from politicians, religious leaders, and international bodies.

Trump’s Reversal

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that Hasan "will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed." While Trump indicated he did not personally oppose the idea of a public execution, suggesting it "might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan," he acknowledged public sentiment. "Many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die," Trump said. He added that immediate family members of the victims could still view the execution in person if they wished.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that Hegseth and Trump had spoken prior to the announcement. "The secretary supports the president’s decision, and they are completely aligned," Parnell said in a statement.

Widespread Opposition

The plan to livestream the execution faced immediate backlash from both U.S. political parties and international organizations. The United Nations described the potential broadcast as "torture," while the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called it a "barbaric promotion of a culture of death." Prime ministers from Australia and Britain also described the plan as "abhorrent."

Domestically, a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Thursday found that eight in 10 Americans opposed livestreaming the execution. Dozens of retired U.S. military officers, including more than 40 generals and admirals, signed an open letter stating that the broadcast "will taint the honor of the military that employs it, and a nation that allows it," and would "ensure that Hasan becomes a martyr."

Democratic Representative Chrissy Houlahan criticized Hegseth, calling the initial plan "as clear an illustration as any that Hegseth is dangerously unqualified." Senator Jack Reed stated that Trump was "right to backtrack" but that Hegseth "deserves to be admonished for his lack of judgment." Republican Senator John Curtis also supported the cancellation, calling it "the right move, both for the loved ones of the victims and for the country."

Background on Nidal Hasan

Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army psychiatrist, was sentenced to death by a military jury in 2013 for the November 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. The attack killed 13 people and injured more than 30 others. Twelve of the 13 people killed and 30 of those wounded were soldiers. Hasan was shot by a civilian police officer during the attack and is paralyzed from the waist down.

During his trial, Hasan conducted his own defense, called no witnesses, and gave no testimony. He did not deny the charges. Court records indicate Hasan was opposed to U.S. military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan and had communicated online with Anwar al-Awlaki, an alleged al-Qaida figure who was later killed in a U.S. drone strike.

Execution Details

Hasan’s execution is scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood. It will be the first execution by a U.S. military firing squad since 1945. The last U.S. military execution was carried out in 1961, when John Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 135 troops have been executed by the U.S. military since 1916.

Why it matters

The cancellation marks a significant policy reversal for the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had defended the livestream plan as a necessary demonstration of consequences for terrorism. The episode highlights the tension between punitive rhetoric and public opinion, as well as the diplomatic friction caused by the proposal. The execution remains a historic event for the U.S. military justice system, being the first firing squad execution in over 80 years.

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Sources

• nationalpost.com: Trump scraps plan to livestream firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan | National Post
• chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese): Trump announces: Execution of Fort Hood shooter will not be broadcast live - China News Service
• bbc.com: Trump calls off livestream of Fort Hood attacker's execution by firing squad

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.