Hebron, Ky. (AP) — Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism on Friday regarding the Pentagon's plans to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, scheduled for December. Vance stated, "I don't know that that's actually going to happen," in response to inquiries about the Pentagon's confirmation of the livestream. He emphasized that regardless of the execution method, Hasan's actions should not be forgotten, noting, "this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people." Vance, who converted to Catholicism, mentioned, "if it's ultimately livestreamed, I'm not going to be watching it."
The head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, condemned the decision to livestream the execution, calling it a "barbaric promotion of a culture of death" in a statement. President Donald Trump, who approved Hasan's execution, described him as "a maniac" and stated that Hasan will receive the death penalty by firing squad. The last military execution occurred on April 13, 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was executed by hanging. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that the military has not executed a service member by firing squad since World War II. Trump did not comment on the livestream plans during a recent White House event.