Trump Cancels Plans to Livestream Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution

By Peter Omopo

United States President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the scheduled execution of former US Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.

Trump announced the decision on Thursday, October 15, following criticism of the proposed broadcast, which he had previously supported as a possible deterrent against terrorism.

In a statement, the president said he had reconsidered the proposal after receiving objections from people who would rather not watch the execution.

He maintained, however, that Hasan would still face execution by firing squad as scheduled on December 3, 2026.

Trump had earlier argued that broadcasting the execution could demonstrate how the United States deals with terrorism and discourage similar attacks. However, he acknowledged that many people opposed watching the event.

The president also confirmed that the victims’ families would be permitted to witness the execution in person, saying they deserved to see justice served.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously supported the proposed livestream, arguing that the public needed to understand the consequences of such attacks. Vice President JD Vance, however, had expressed uncertainty about whether the broadcast would proceed and said he would not watch it.

The Pentagon announced last week that Hasan would be executed by firing squad, a method that would mark the first military execution in the United States in more than 60 years.

Hasan carried out the November 5, 2009, attack inside a crowded medical building at Fort Hood, where soldiers preparing for deployment were awaiting medical examinations and vaccinations. He killed 13 people and injured 32 others in what remains the deadliest non-combat attack on a US military installation.

During his court-martial in 2013, Hasan admitted responsibility for the shooting and apologised for what he described as mistakes. He also told the military court that he believed he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan from the US military.

Under US military law, an execution must receive presidential approval and undergo appellate review to determine whether it can legally proceed.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International reported that more than 2,700 executions were recorded across 17 countries in 2025. The organisation said public executions were known to have occurred in only two countries, with 11 reported in Iran and six in Afghanistan.

The post Trump Cancels Plans to Livestream Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine .