First public execution broadcast since 1930s scrapped as Trump calls off livestream of Hasan execution
Broadcast plan withdrawn
The execution of Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed, reversing an earlier announcement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. President Donald Trump said the execution would proceed, but the public would not see it through a video stream.
Trump said some people might view a broadcast as a deterrent, but others would not want to watch a person die. He said the execution could still be attended by victims’ immediate family members, if they wished.
Hasan’s conviction
Hasan, a former US Army major, was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, a Texas military base, in 2009. His execution is scheduled to be carried out by firing squad. Had it been streamed, the event would reportedly have marked the first public execution in the United States since the 1930s.
Platforms had not responded
YouTube, Meta and Twitch had not said whether they would allow the US government to livestream an execution. The question arose as the planned broadcast was being discussed.
The decision not to stream means the execution will not be shown online. The article does not say when the scheduled execution will occur.
Key points
- Hasan’s execution will not be livestreamed, despite an earlier announcement by Pete Hegseth.
- Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.
- The execution is scheduled to take place by firing squad.
- Victims’ immediate family members may attend in person if they choose.