The execution of Nidal Hasan, a former US Army major who fatally shot 13 unarmed soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, will be livestreamed, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. An official from the Defense Department confirmed to the BBC that the execution is scheduled for December 3, marking the first military execution in over 60 years. Hegseth stated, "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public," emphasizing the need for awareness of consequences for such actions.
In an interview with Real America's Voice, Hegseth remarked that Hasan would face a firing squad, asserting, "As it should be." When asked about Hasan's final requests or any communication with President Donald Trump, Hegseth responded, "Don't care. We'll see him on December 3rd." The Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell noted that the defense secretary's recommendation for the execution was approved by Trump.
The White House has been contacted for comment regarding Trump's support for the livestreamed execution. The execution will take place at Fort Hood, Texas, and is the first military execution by firing squad since World War II. Hasan, who admitted to being the shooter in the deadliest non-combat attack on a US military base, expressed during his court martial in 2013 that he believed he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban.
John Mills, a lawyer working with death row inmates, commented on the public execution, stating, "It looks to me designed to be a grotesque spectacle," and noted that the decision is unprecedented in modern times and raises legal uncertainties. Mills indicated that Hasan's appellate process is ongoing, and he may seek a review of his conviction and sentence in federal court, which could delay the execution.
Deborah Denno, a law professor at Fordham University, highlighted that while some states allow public viewing of executions, there has never been a livestreamed execution in the US. She noted that a livestream would provide transparency about the execution process, which is often overlooked by the public.
The execution's livestreaming details remain unclear, as major social media platforms typically have policies against explicit content. While there were over 2,700 executions across 17 countries last year, only two countries conducted them publicly. The US has seen a resurgence in federal executions, particularly during Trump's presidency, which included a series of executions in his final year in office. The last military execution occurred in 1961, and the last by firing squad was in January 1945.