Trump Privately Backs Away From Hegseth’s Livestreamed Execution Plan
President Donald Trump has privately cooled on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's proposal to livestream the firing-squad execution of Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan. After saying last week that he approved the plan, Trump told an aide it might not happen amid bipartisan criticism. Lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Thom Tillis objected, warning that a public execution video could aid terrorists.
President Trump has reportedly lost enthusiasm for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s proposal to broadcast Nidal Hasan’s firing-squad execution. Trump had said days earlier that he approved it, but later suggested to an aide that it might not proceed as bipartisan objections grew.
Hasan, 56, is a former Army psychiatrist from Virginia. He killed 13 soldiers and injured 32 at the Texas post in 2009. His execution is scheduled for December 3. Republican critics included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Thom Tillis, and Representative Adam Scott.
The dispute may shape how officials weigh transparency against security risks in high-profile military executions. A public broadcast could distress victims’ families and survivors, while critics warn it might be used as extremist propaganda. It may also intensify political scrutiny of the administration’s handling of capital punishment and national-security messaging, affecting public confidence in institutions and the broader debate over capital punishment.