President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he hasn’t made a decision regarding the potential livestreaming of Nidal Malik Hasan’s execution by firing squad. He mentioned he would ultimately “make a decision” about whether this event would be broadcasted.
The Pentagon had earlier confirmed that Hasan, a former Army major convicted of murdering 13 people and injuring 32 others during the Fort Hood shooting in 2009, is scheduled to be executed on December 3.
When asked by reporters about the situation, Trump described Hasan as “vicious” and “violent.” He shared his thoughts on the broadcast, saying there are essentially two sides to consider: not showing the execution, or showing it to potentially deter others from committing similar acts.
“I’ll make a decision, ultimately,” Trump reiterated, acknowledging the military’s preferences while still weighing his own stance.
It was previously reported that Trump approved the execution method after a suggestion from War Secretary Pete Hegseth. His remarks came a day after he was asked if he had approved the livestreaming aspect of the execution.
Trump emphasized that while he was not involved in the decision-making process, he understood the reasoning behind it, stating the military aims for the execution to “serve as an example.”
Vice President JD Vance, commenting on the matter, mentioned uncertainty regarding the execution’s broadcast. He added, “If it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it.”
If Hasan’s execution proceeds, it would mark the first military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since 1945.
