Trump abandons plan to stream execution of Fort Hood shooter after backlash

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that plans for a live-stream broadcast of the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former US army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at a military base in Texas in 2009, would not proceed. The decision to stream the firing-squad execution of the 56-year-old, who was paralyzed from the waist down following his arrest, was proposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this month.

However, the plan was withdrawn after condemnation from within Trump's own circle, including Vice President JD Vance and Archbishop Timothy Broglio. Trump claimed that broadcasting the execution might have served as a deterrent to potential terrorists but acknowledged that many could prefer not to witness it. He emphasized that the victim's immediate families could attend the execution in person if they desired.

The controversy surrounding the proposal raised questions about the administration's judgment and approach to capital punishment, with legal experts noting that it went against international human rights standards and could be seen as tone-deaf. The execution is scheduled for December 3, 2026, with the possibility of legal challenges delaying the process.