Historical First: U.S. Execution by Firing Squad Set to Be Televised
The United States is on the cusp of a significant moment as it plans to air the country’s first-ever execution by firing squad. Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army Major convicted for a horrific act in 2009, is scheduled to be executed this December. Initially, the execution was meant to be broadcasted, but the Trump administration is currently debating whether to keep it off the air.
In the U.S., no official execution has ever been shown on television, and the last public execution dates back to 1936 in Kentucky when Rainey Bethea was hanged after killing a 70-year-old woman. With public broadcasting networks not yet operational at that time, witnesses had to attend in person. Now, it feels like we’re entering entirely new territory.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has confirmed plans for the public execution, stating, “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that there are serious consequences for these types of things,” in an interview.
The “things” he refers to involve the shooting deaths of 13 Army members by Hasan on November 5, 2009. Hasan was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, leading to his death sentence just days later.
The execution will occur at the same location where the crime took place. Scheduled for December 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. Central Time, Hasan will face a firing squad. Although lethal injection typically serves as the primary method of executing a death sentence, firing squads remain an available option in several states, with the most recent execution occurring in 2025.
While plans are in motion for Hasan’s execution to be aired on television and streaming platforms, reports suggest an ongoing ethical debate within the Trump administration about whether it’s right to showcase such an event publicly.
Vice President JD Vance has stated that he won’t watch the event if streamed, and former President Trump seems indifferent about the decision to broadcast it. Reports indicate some officials fear that airing the execution might be wielded against the U.S. as anti-American propaganda or provide fodder for extremists. Moreover, given that Hasan is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, executing a disabled man on live television might not sit well with the public.
Despite the discussions, the Pentagon has emphasized that the execution will be broadcast as planned. Though a definitive list of broadcasting channels is still pending, some services have proactively decided against airing the execution, including TikTok and Newsmax. More specific viewing details are expected as the execution date nears.
Concerning the legality of airing such an event, the FCC has stringent regulations prohibiting indecent or obscene material on television. However, violence is generally protected due to free speech laws, allowing for the possibility of a public execution to fit within these guidelines.
Additionally, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has not indicated plans to obstruct the broadcast, leaving the ultimate decision regarding the airing up to Hegseth. Provided the Trump administration resolves its internal conflicts, it seems the execution will indeed be available for public viewing.
The bigger question possibly lingering is whether it should be watched at all.
The legality of the death penalty is endorsed by 27 U.S. states and the federal government, with some biblical texts appearing to support the practice as well. Yet, spiritually speaking, one might argue it’s best to abstain from witnessing it.
Watching someone’s life taken away can drain a bit of one’s own essence in a way; the moral costs may ultimately outweigh any justification for viewing it. Without further context, it’s tough to determine how brutal the televised execution might be, but any execution, irrespective of presentation, remains a tragic end. That said, it’s perhaps best that children, and really anyone wanting to protect their own sense of peace, steer clear from tuning in.
