Donald Trump to decide on livestreaming Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan execution
President Donald Trump will decide whether to broadcast the Fort Hood execution of convicted shooter Nidal Hasan. A public broadcast of the lethal military sentence faces growing political resistance. Trump addressed reporters on the White House South Lawn on Saturday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended Hasan face a firing squad on Dec. 3. Trump approved the plan earlier in the week, a White House spokesperson confirmed.
Trump spoke about the debate surrounding the broadcast.
“There are two thoughts: don’t show it and show it, because you know by showing it, maybe other people won’t be doing what he did,” the president continued. “So I’ll make a decision ultimately. I know what the military would like to do, but we’ll make a decision.”
Trump said Hasan killed 13 people and wounded over 20. The president stated he does not care how Hasan dies.
“He’s a vicious killer, killed 13 people in cold blood, wounded over 20. Some of those people will never have their lives back in a true sense,” Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn on Saturday. “He was vicious. He was violent.”
Trump noted on Friday that officials are still reviewing the broadcast issue. He stated the condemned man will die by firing squad.
Hasan worked as an Army psychiatrist before the attack at Fort Hood. He opened fire at the military processing center in November 2009.
The gunfire killed 12 soldiers and one civilian. It injured 32 others on the base.
The event became the deadliest mass shooting on a U.S. military installation. Hasan acted as his own attorney during his 2013 trial.
Hasan admitted guilt in his opening statement to the military court. He said he acted because of American wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters Friday he will not watch the execution. Vance doubted the broadcast would occur.
The proposed broadcast drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats. A December execution would mark the military’s first in six decades.
Military executions require presidential review under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Fort Hood is a major military base located in Texas. Lethal sentences by firing squad follow established armed forces procedures.
Trump said he knows what military leaders want to do. He will make the final choice.
