Nidal Hasan Execution Livestream: Trump Says Not Final

President Donald Trump said Friday that no final decision has been made on whether to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former U.S. Army major who killed 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The Nidal Hasan execution livestream plan, announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has drawn sharp bipartisan criticism and reignited debate over public executions in America.

What is the Nidal Hasan execution livestream plan?

The Nidal Hasan execution livestream refers to a Pentagon proposal to broadcast the firing squad execution scheduled for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas. On October 8, Hegseth said the execution "will be available for everyone to follow," and the Pentagon later clarified that officials are considering a livestream. If carried out, it would be the first public execution in the United States since 1936 and the first U.S. military execution since 1961.

Hasan, a Palestinian-American Army psychiatrist, opened fire at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009, shouting "Allahu Akbar" and killing 13 fellow soldiers while wounding more than 30 others. He was convicted by court-martial in 2013 and sentenced to death. The Fort Hood shooting timeline remains one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. military base.

Trump: Decision "not final" on livestream execution

Asked about the planned livestream, Trump responded evasively: Well, they still have to make a decision about that. He added, But he will be killed, and that will happen by firing squad. Trump also said it really does not matter how he goes, as long as he goes. I think the death penalty for him is a dignified way to go.

Vice President JD Vance was also lukewarm. I don't know if it will really happen, he told reporters, before pivoting to Hasan's crimes. The method may be controversial, but I hope people don't forget that this man cruelly murdered many innocent people. Vance added that he would not watch the livestream himself: I will not look at it.

Bipartisan outrage over public execution plan

Lawmakers from both parties condemned the idea. Influential Republican Senator Thom Tillis called it more than disgusting and said the United States would join the ranks of tyrannical dictatorships like Iran and Afghanistan. His colleague John Curtis warned that Roman philosopher Seneca cautioned against bloody spectacles: A civilization slides when it considers executions a form of entertainment.

Democrats were even harsher. Senator Jon Ossoff described the plan as an obscene medieval spectacle and called Hegseth a sick person who seems to wallow in this kind of cruelty. Senator Jack Reed said the livestream would be a gift to anti-American terrorism recruiters. The death penalty debate has exposed deep divisions even within the president's own party.

What happens next? Key dates and facts

• October 2, 2026: President Trump approves Hasan's death sentence.
• October 6, 2026: Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle sets execution for December 3, 2026, 1 p.m. CST.
• October 8, 2026: Hegseth announces livestream; Pentagon confirms it is under consideration.
• December 3, 2026: Scheduled firing squad execution at Fort Hood, Texas.

Hasan can still seek relief in civilian federal courts, meaning the date could be delayed. If the execution proceeds, it would end a 65-year gap in U.S. military capital punishment. The US military justice system has not carried out a death sentence since 1961.

FAQ: Nidal Hasan execution livestream

Will Nidal Hasan's execution be livestreamed?

Not yet final. Trump said Friday the decision is still pending, despite Hegseth's announcement that it would be publicly available.

When is Nidal Hasan scheduled to be executed?

December 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. Central Time at Fort Hood, Texas, by firing squad.

Why is the livestream controversial?

Critics say it would be the first public U.S. execution since 1936 and could be seen as cruel or as entertainment, drawing comparisons to authoritarian regimes.

What did Nidal Hasan do?

He killed 13 people and wounded over 30 in the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, the deadliest attack on a U.S. military base.

Has the U.S. military executed anyone recently?

No. The last military execution was John A. Bennett in 1961; the last Army firing squad execution was in 1945.