Trump calls off livestream of Fort Hood attacker's execution by firing squad

What the report says

US President Donald Trump has reversed plans to livestream the execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who was convicted in connection with the 2009 Fort Hood attack in Texas. The decision was reported after Trump had earlier signaled support for airing the execution, a proposal that drew criticism from human rights groups, the United Nations and other opponents of public death-penalty broadcasts.

According to the reported details, Hasan is due to be executed by firing squad for the attack that killed 13 unarmed service members and injured 32 others at a military base. The execution would be the first military execution in more than 60 years. Trump said the execution would go ahead but would not be streamed, while noting that victims’ families could still attend in person if they choose.

The controversy grew after the Pentagon said last week it would carry out the execution on 3 December 2026 and livestream it. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the idea, but Trump later said many people would prefer not to watch Hasan die. A Pentagon spokesman said Hegseth and Trump were aligned on the final decision.

The broader issue touches on the military justice system and the rarity of public executions in the United States. The reporting also noted that US military law requires presidential approval and appellate review before a military execution can proceed.