Trump Cancels Livestream of Nidal Hasan Execution by Firing Squad

President Donald Trump cancelled the planned livestream of Nidal Hasan's execution on 15 October 2026, reversing a decision by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hasan, a former Army major and psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. He is scheduled to be executed by firing squad at 13:00 on 3 December at the same post where the attack occurred.

Hegseth had announced earlier in the month that the execution would be broadcast live so the public could watch. The plan drew immediate criticism from members of both parties in Congress, retired senior officers, religious leaders, and some survivors. Vice President JD Vance said he would not watch and expressed doubt the broadcast would happen.

Trump wrote on social media that streaming the death "might have been a strong deterrent" but that "many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die." He confirmed the execution would still take place by firing squad on the scheduled date. Immediate families of the victims will be allowed to attend in person if they choose, consistent with standard practice.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth and Trump spoke before the announcement and are "completely aligned." A White House official indicated the livestream plan had not been coordinated with the president in advance.

No country is known to livestream judicial executions. The proposal had no recent US precedent. Seventy-two retired generals, admirals and other senior officers had publicly urged the administration to abandon the idea, arguing it would damage the military's reputation.

Hasan's civilian attorney said the cancellation was not surprising. The 2009 attack remains one of the deadliest on a US military installation. Hasan was sentenced to death by a military court. Appeals delayed the execution for years.

The reversal ends a brief period in which the Pentagon had treated the broadcast as settled. Officials had confirmed as late as 15 October that preparations for livestreaming were underway. Trump's statement closed that option within hours.

The execution itself remains scheduled for 3 December. Families of those killed in 2009 can decide whether to witness it. The broader debate over public display of capital punishment, particularly in a military setting, continues even after the livestream was dropped.

Trump's intervention also highlights tensions inside the administration over how to handle high-profile military justice cases. Hegseth had framed the broadcast as a demonstration of resolve. The president ultimately sided with those who opposed making the event a public spectacle.