Trump Announces Nidal Hasan's Execution Will Not Be Livestreamed

President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the planned execution by firing squad of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed, reversing the Pentagon's earlier plans. Trump's announcement followed backlash against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's proposal to broadcast the execution live, with concerns that it could serve as a recruitment tool for terrorists. Hasan, who is paralyzed from the waist down, is scheduled to be executed on December 3 at 1 p.m. Central Time at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. During his 2013 court-martial, Hasan expressed that he was motivated to defend the 'leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban,' and he may seek to delay his execution through legal challenges. Trump described Hasan as a 'very bad and evil man' in a post on Truth Social, noting that Hasan killed 13 people, including a pregnant woman, and injured 32 others during the November 5, 2009, shooting. Trump mentioned that while he believes streaming the execution could deter terrorism, many people would prefer not to witness it. He confirmed that the execution will not be streamed but can be attended by the victims' families. A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll indicated that 80% of Americans oppose livestreaming the execution, while 53% support Hasan's execution by firing squad. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that Trump and Hegseth discussed the decision prior to the announcement. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, leading the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, expressed that any Catholics involved in the execution should seek to be excused. Hasan would be the first member of the U.S. military executed by firing squad since World War II and the first military execution since 1961. Hegseth had previously stated that the execution would be public to demonstrate the consequences of such actions. Following Trump's announcement, it was unclear which streaming platforms would have aired the execution. Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism about the livestream, while Senator Thom Tillis criticized the idea as 'beyond disgusting.' Former Army Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford, who was shot by Hasan, opposed the livestreaming but planned to attend the execution in person. Archbishop Paul Coakley condemned the public execution plan, stating it promotes a culture of death. CNBC has reached out to the Pentagon for further comment.