‘I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen’: Vance doubts plan to livestream of execution of Fort Hood shooter after Pentagon’s announcement

Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism on Friday regarding the Pentagon's decision to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, scheduled for December, according to an announcement by the Pentagon on Thursday. However, Vance stated unequivocally, "I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen," when queried about the feasibility of the plan.

Despite the controversy surrounding the potential public execution, Vance underscored the importance of not forgetting Hasan's violent crime. Hasan was found guilty of killing 13 individuals and injuring 32 others in a shooting spree at the military base in 2009. Vance emphasized, "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."

The Republican vice president added, "Now, that said, I mean, look, if it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it," revealing his personal reluctance to partake in the act.

Furthermore, Vance's stance was informed by his conversion to the Catholic Church, an institution that has historically opposed capital punishment. The head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, voiced shock and sorrow upon learning of the Pentagon's decision to livestream Hasan's execution. Coakley termed the move as "a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered."

President Donald Trump, who authorized the execution, characterized Hasan as "a maniac" and expressed support for the death penalty. Trump's approval came after a failed attempt to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection earlier in the month led to a state-wide moratorium on executions in Tennessee.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the military has not executed a service member by firing squad since World War II, with the most recent execution occurring on April 13, 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was executed by hanging. Trump's involvement in the matter, driven by his staunch support for capital punishment, did not include discussing the livestreaming aspect of Hasan's execution.