US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will not be livestreamed. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that relatives of Hasan's victims will be permitted to witness the execution in person.
Background to the execution
Hasan, 56, a former US Army Major, murdered 13 unarmed soldiers and wounded 32 others at a military installation in Texas in 2009. His death was scheduled to mark the first military execution in America in over six decades.
Last week, US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth informed journalists that the execution would be livestreamed to the public. As opposition to the proposal grew, Vice-President JD Vance acknowledged he was "not going to be watching it" and later admitted he was uncertain whether the broadcast would proceed, reports the Irish Mirror.
Trump's statement on the livestream
In his post, Trump wrote: "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, through streaming, or through any other visual device."
He added: "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed. That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose. They deserve to witness JUSTICE!"
Reaction and next steps
Hasan's execution is set for 3 December. Following the announcement that the procedure would be livestreamed, Hegseth stated that "people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things".
Trump subsequently faced scrutiny over whether the broadcast could be exploited as propaganda by terrorist groups. When challenged on the prospect of the footage being misappropriated, he described Hasan as "totally nuts", adding: "I really don't care how he goes, as long as he goes, and I think that the death penalty is a very worthy way of going for him."
