Trump scraps plans to live stream firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter

U.S. President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former U.S. Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009. The decision follows intense domestic and international opposition to the proposal, which had been championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump confirmed the change in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that Hasan would still face execution by firing squad on 3 December but that the event would not be broadcast. The move marks a rare public divergence between Trump and Hegseth, a close ally of the president. While Trump acknowledged that streaming the execution might serve as a deterrent for potential terrorists, he noted that many individuals preferred not to witness such an event. Families of the victims will still have the option to attend the execution in person, according to Trump. The planned livestream sparked widespread condemnation from various quarters. The United Nations described it as "torture," while the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called it a "barbaric promotion of a culture of death." Both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak labeled the idea "abhorrent." Vice President JD Vance, whose recent memoir focused on his Catholic faith, stated he would not watch the execution if it proceeded. Public sentiment largely opposed the plan. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll revealed that eight in 10 Americans were against livestreaming the execution. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties voiced concerns, with top House Republican Mike Johnson warning it could become a "recruiting tool for future terrorists." Dozens of retired U.S. military officers also issued an open letter opposing the broadcast, arguing it could tarnish the military's reputation and elevate Hasan to the status of a martyr. Hasan, who was paralyzed from the waist down during his arrest, was convicted of premeditated murder in a military trial. He was found guilty of killing 13 unarmed soldiers and wounding 32 others in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood. His defense team did not comment on the cancellation of the livestream, and it remained unclear whether the execution date would be affected by any legal challenges. Hegseth had argued that broadcasting the execution would help convey the seriousness of the consequences for such acts. However, as criticism mounted, Trump appeared to distance himself from the plan, despite earlier indications of support. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that Hegseth had consulted with Trump prior to the decision and emphasized that both were "completely aligned." The cancellation comes amid broader scrutiny of capital punishment in the U.S., particularly after a recent incident in Tennessee involving a failed execution attempt. Meanwhile, Trump has reiterated his stance on the death penalty, expressing a desire for it to apply to anyone who kills a firefighter. Hasan's execution, if carried out, would mark the first U.S. military firing squad execution since 1945. It is part of a larger global context, with Amnesty International reporting at least 17 public executions worldwide in 2025, including six in Afghanistan and 11 in Iran. The event underscores ongoing debates around justice, deterrence, and the ethical implications of public executions.