Trump Approves Livestream Plan for Hasan Execution at Fort Hood

President Donald Trump approved a Pentagon plan to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood in Texas, where Hasan killed 13 Army soldiers and injured 32 others in 2009, according to reports from The New York Times and The Associated Press.

The planned execution would take place on Dec. 3, with Hasan scheduled to be shot by rifle-bearing soldiers at the same military base where the attack occurred. The Pentagon has not previously broadcast an official US execution live.

The Defense Department said the livestream proposal was intended to make the execution public. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the plan in an interview with a conservative news outlet.

"We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand there’s serious consequences for these types of things," said Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary.

Trump publicly supported the firing squad method after approving the plan, while Vice President JD Vance questioned whether the livestream would actually occur. The controversy followed discussions over how Hasan's sentence should be carried out.

"I don’t know that that’s going to happen," said JD Vance, Vice President.

Vance also said Hasan's crimes should remain central to the discussion. Hasan was convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people and wounded 32 others.

"So whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don’t forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people," said JD Vance, Vice President.

Vance said he would not watch the execution if it is streamed. He also expressed uncertainty about whether the Pentagon's plan would move forward.

"Now, that said, I mean, look, if it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it," said JD Vance, Vice President.

Trump said he approved the execution plan and again supported the firing squad method. He did not say whether he would watch a livestreamed execution.

"Did I approve? Absolutely I did," said Donald Trump, President.

Trump later reiterated his support for the execution method during remarks to reporters before traveling to a political event.

"He will be killed. He will be, through firing squad," said Donald Trump, President.

Trump continued discussing his position on the death penalty while answering questions about the execution.

"I really don’t care how he goes, as long as he goes. And I think the death penalty is a very worthy way of going for him," said Donald Trump, President.

Trump said the decision on livestreaming was still being determined when asked about the broadcast plan.

"Well, they’re making a determination about that," said Donald Trump, President.

The proposed livestream drew criticism from religious leaders and lawmakers from both parties. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned the decision in a statement.

"It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution," said Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Several members of Congress also criticized the plan. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the proposal unacceptable.

"Beyond disgusting," said Thom Tillis, Senator from North Carolina.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said the practice was rejected by most countries.

"almost no countries in the world engage in this barbaric practice," said Mark Warner, Senator from Virginia.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska urged the Pentagon to reconsider the plan, saying the way justice is carried out matters.

"to reverse this gruesome decision," said Lisa Murkowski, Senator from Alaska.

Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah compared public executions to historical spectacles and warned against treating them as entertainment.

"feeding that appetite," said John Curtis, Senator from Utah.