Trump reverses Hegseth, announces Nidal Hasan execution will not be streamed

Trump reverses livestream decision

Trump announced Thursday that Hasan’s execution would not be broadcast, while confirming it would proceed by firing squad as planned. He said victims’ families could attend in person if they chose.

In a social media post, Trump said he had considered the livestream as a possible deterrent, but noted that many people did not want to watch an execution. It remains unclear whether Hegseth knew about the reversal before Trump’s statement Thursday morning.

Hasan’s conviction and scheduled execution

Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. He described the attack as an act of jihad. His execution is scheduled for Dec. 3 by firing squad at the same base where the shooting occurred.

Earlier plans drew criticism

Hegseth said last week that the execution would be public and livestreamed. The Pentagon maintained earlier this week that the broadcast plan remained in place, while Trump and his advisers were considering whether to cancel it.

Vice President JD Vance said last week he was unsure whether a livestream would happen and would not watch it. Several lawmakers, including Republicans, opposed the plan; Sen. Thom Tillis compared public executions to practices in oppressive dictatorships.

Poll and public execution history

Public executions were once common in the United States, but states began restricting or abolishing them in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. The last widely recognized public execution took place in Kentucky in 1936.