The Pentagon had previously announced that Nidal Hasan would be executed by firing squad on December 3, 2026, for his role in the 2009 Fort Hood attack.
Defense Secretary Hegseth then suggested that the execution should be livestreamed publicly, arguing that it would emphasize the serious consequences of such actions.
President Trump referred to Hasan as “totally nuts,” stating he did not care about the method of execution as long as it proceeded, and affirmed that the death penalty was a fitting outcome. While he initially supported the livestream idea, he noted that the Pentagon was still evaluating the plans.
Hasan carried out the attack in a crowded medical building at Fort Hood, where soldiers were preparing for deployment. He later admitted to the shooting in court, apologizing for any mistakes, and claimed during his 2013 court-martial that he was acting to protect Muslims and the Taliban from the U.S. military.
The incident on November 5, 2009, remains the deadliest non-combat attack on an American military base in history.
U.S. military law mandates that executions require presidential approval and undergo appellate review to ensure legality.
Globally, public executions are uncommon; Amnesty International reported that in 2025, only Iran and Afghanistan conducted them publicly, with 11 and six instances respectively, out of over 2,700 executions worldwide.
