Trump Announces Reversal
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (10/15/2026) that the military will not livestream the planned firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, mass shooter. The announcement was made through a post on his social media platform on Thursday morning U.S. time.
"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," Trump wrote. "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed." Trump added that victims' families may attend in person: "They deserve to witness JUSTICE!"
The decision reverses a commitment announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a week earlier. On Oct. 8, Hegseth said the Pentagon intended to broadcast Hasan's execution live and stated, "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it," arguing the public needed to understand there are serious consequences for such violence.
Plan Drew Widespread Controversy
The livestream plan drew immediate opposition from both parties. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not watch the broadcast and noted some of his colleagues had concerns, while Vice President JD Vance also expressed doubt and said he would not watch.
The sharpest criticism came from victims' families. Keely Cahill Vanacker — daughter of Michael Cahill, one of the 13 people killed in the attack — told CNN the plan was 'absolutely the worst thing,' had 'nothing to do with justice,' and would turn tragedy into entertainment spread relentlessly across social media.
According to CNN, the Pentagon itself began reevaluating the broadcast plan. One source cited concerns that the footage could be exploited by terrorist groups for propaganda, as well as the optics of executing a paralyzed man in a wheelchair. Trump reportedly made the final call after learning of Hasan's paralysis.
Background: The 2009 Fort Hood Attack
Nidal Malik Hasan, a former U.S. Army officer and psychiatrist, opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood on Nov. 5, 2009, killing 13 people and wounding 32 others. The attack stands as the largest mass murder in the history of a U.S. military installation.
Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death. Trump approved carrying out the sentence by firing squad on Oct. 2, 2026. The execution, scheduled for Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. at Fort Hood — the same day of the week, location, and time as the 2009 attack — would be the first execution of a soldier by the U.S. Army since World War II.
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