President Donald Trump has canceled plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009.
Hasan will still face execution by firing squad on December 3, 2026, the first military execution in more than 60 years. Trump said families of the 13 victims can attend in person if they wish. "They deserve to witness JUSTICE," Trump said in a statement.
Trump had initially approved the livestream plan announced by the Pentagon last week. But after widespread criticism from human rights groups, the United Nations, and others, Trump reversed course. He cited opposition from "many very good and well meaning people" who preferred not to watch the execution.
"I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan," Trump said. "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had defended the livestream plan, saying "people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things." But Trump's reversal followed mounting pressure.
Vice President JD Vance had already cast doubt on the livestream, saying he would not watch it.
Hasan opened fire on November 5, 2009, in a medical building at Fort Hood where soldiers awaiting deployment were receiving check-ups and vaccines. He wounded 32 others. Hasan later admitted to the shooting and said during his 2013 court-martial that he believed he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban from the U.S. military.
John Galligan, Hasan's lawyer, told the BBC that Trump's decision "comes as no surprise." Galligan noted that Hasan is paralyzed from the chest down and that Hegseth's initial livestream decision "violated the Army's own regulation." He said the damage from announcing the plan "will permanently remain a stain on our military justice system."
U.S. military law requires the president to approve military executions and mandates appellate review before execution proceeds.