By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed. This statement reverses an earlier plan made public by the Pentagon. Trump outlined his decision in a post on Truth Social. “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 wrote.
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” Trump added.
In-Person Attendance for Victims’ Families
Trump confirmed that the core sentence remains unchanged. Immediate family members of the victims will still be permitted to attend.
“They deserve to witness JUSTICE!” Trump stated.
Hasan carried out the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. He killed 13 people and wounded 32 others during the attack. Trump reiterated his firm support for carrying out the death sentence.
Internal Debates and Deliberations
Reports surfaced earlier this week that White House advisers debated canceling the livestream broadcast. Trump privately noted that he initially did not know Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth originally announced the plan to broadcast the event. Sources noted Trump was not aware of Hegseth’s public broadcast plans beforehand.
Trump had previously offered mixed remarks about the proposed broadcast. The president noted that he “absolutely” approved of the plan, but added that officials were still “making a determination” on it.
Trump described Hasan as “totally nuts” during those comments. “I really don’t care how he goes, as long as he goes, and I think that the death penalty is a very worthy way of going for him,” Trump remarked. Vice President JD Vance expressed doubts about the broadcast and stated he would not watch it.
Defense Department Arguments
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had defended the proposed digital broadcast. He argued that public viewing served an instructive purpose. “People need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things,” Hegseth said.
Military leadership initially scheduled the execution for December 3 at the Texas military post. Hegseth recommended death by firing squad, and Trump approved the measure.
Bipartisan Backlash and Public Opinion
The proposal triggered immediate pushback across the political spectrum. Military officials and Army personnel expressed surprise at the broadcast announcement.
Public opinion polls showed clear opposition to airing the execution. An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Thursday found 80% of U.S. adults opposed a livestream broadcast. That total included 64% of Republicans who said the event should not be streamed.
Survivors of the attack also expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the execution by firing squad as a fitting punishment while questioning the necessity and propriety of broadcasting the death online.
Global Reaction and Human Rights Concerns
International organizations issued swift condemnations following the original Pentagon announcement. The United Nations called the proposed broadcast “abhorrent”.
Human rights groups highlighted global standards regarding capital punishment. Global data showed over 2,700 executions across 17 countries last year. Only two nations conducted public executions. Amnesty International reported that Iran carried out 11 public executions in 2025, while Afghanistan carried out six.
Legal Counsel Response
John Galligan, a civil lawyer for Hasan, said Trump’s decision to call off the broadcast “comes as no surprise.”
“It was initially a dumb decision and statement by Hegseth to livestream any execution – and it violated the Army’s own regulation,” Galligan said.
Galligan noted that Hasan is paralyzed from the chest down, a condition Trump “allegedly didn’t even know” when the broadcast was authorized.
“The damage has already been done – the Army is now just trying to clean up the mess,” Galligan stated. “It will permanently remain a stain on our military justice system.”
Galligan added that it was unclear if Hasan had been notified of Trump’s reversal.
Background and Historic Context
The November 5, 2009 shooting remains the deadliest non-combat attack on a domestic military base in U.S. history. Hasan opened fire inside a crowded medical building where deploying soldiers waited for check-ups and vaccines.
During his 2013 court-martial, Hasan admitted to the shootings and apologized for “any mistakes.” He stated that he believed he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan from the U.S. military.
Military law mandates presidential approval for military executions. The process requires full appellate review before final authorization.
Hasan’s execution will be the U.S. Army’s first firing squad execution of a soldier since World War II. It marks the first military imposition of the death penalty on a service member in 65 years.
Institutional Implications
The reversal highlights the complex balance between deterrence, public sensibility, and military protocol in high-profile capital cases. By canceling the broadcast while maintaining the execution schedule, the administration navigates significant public, political, and international pressure while leaving the ultimate legal and historical outcome unchanged.
