Trump Cancels Planned Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan’s Firing-Squad Execution

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan will proceed as scheduled on December 3 but will not be livestreamed. Hasan, a former Army major, was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the 2009 attack at Fort Hood, Texas.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “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. He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.”

He added that immediate family members of the victims may view the execution in person if they choose. “They deserve to witness JUSTICE!”

The decision reversed a plan announced last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to livestream the execution from the same Texas installation where the attack occurred. The proposal drew criticism from members of both parties, retired military officers, religious leaders, and some survivors. Vice President JD Vance had said he would not watch it and expressed doubt that the livestream would occur.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Trump and Hegseth spoke about the decision before the announcement and that the Secretary supports the President’s decision. The execution by firing squad will be the first military execution in more than 60 years. Hasan remains scheduled to die at 1 p.m. on December 3.

The reversal marks a rare public adjustment by the administration on a high-profile security matter after sustained pushback. Trump had initially indicated support for the concept of a deterrent broadcast but concluded that many Americans preferred not to watch.