US President Donald Trump has reversed plans to broadcast the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former military psychiatrist convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The execution by firing squad is scheduled to proceed as planned on 3 December 2026, marking the first US military execution in more than 60 years.
Trump previously favoured broadcasting the event online, stating it could serve as a deterrent to terrorists. However, he cancelled the livestream following widespread international and domestic backlash. On Thursday, Trump acknowledged that many well-meaning individuals would prefer not to watch the execution, though he noted that victims’ families retain the right to attend the event in person.
Reactions and Legal Context
The proposal to stream the execution publicly drew sharp criticism from human rights organizations and international bodies. The United Nations described the plan as abhorrent, while human rights data shows public executions remain extremely rare globally. US Vice-President JD Vance had also previously expressed doubts about the streaming plan, stating he would not watch it.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had initially defended the public broadcast as a necessary demonstration of consequences for major crimes. However, John Galligan, a lawyer representing Hasan on civil matters, criticized the initial decision to stream the execution, pointing out that Hasan is paralyzed from the chest down and asserting that broadcasting the act violated military regulations.
Hasan killed 13 unarmed American soldiers and injured 32 others during a 2009 shooting rampage at a military base in Texas. During his 2013 court-martial, he admitted to the attack, claiming his actions were intended to protect Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Under US law, military executions require final authorization from the president as well as legal appellate reviews.
Source: BBC News
