Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Vance Doubts Livestream of Hasan Execution as Opposition Grows
Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.
He is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3.
The Pentagon has said people may be able to watch the execution live.
Vice President JD Vance is unsure whether that will happen and says he would not watch.
President Donald Trump supports the execution but says he has not decided about the livestream.
Some lawmakers, religious leaders and human rights officials oppose showing it publicly.
They say it could be cruel or help terrorist groups spread propaganda.
The execution is expected to be the US military’s first firing-squad execution since 1945.
Nidal Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, for killing 13 people in 2009.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon would make the execution public; an official said it would be livestreamed.
Vice President JD Vance said he was unsure the broadcast would happen and would not watch if it did.
President Donald Trump supports Hasan’s execution but says he is still deciding whether to allow a livestream.
Critics, including Republican lawmakers, religious leaders and UN human rights officials, say publicizing the execution could be cruel, degrading or useful to terrorist recruiters.
- Who
- Nidal Hasan is scheduled for execution; JD Vance, Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have commented on the proposed livestream.
- What
- Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad, but whether the execution will be livestreamed remains uncertain.
- When
- The execution is scheduled for December 3; the reports were published October 9.
- Where
- Fort Hood, Texas, where the 2009 shooting took place.
- Why
- Hasan was convicted by a military jury of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
Opponents of Livestreaming
Arguments for Publicity
Whether the execution should be shown
Opponents of Livestreaming
Republican and Democratic lawmakers, religious leaders and UN human rights officials criticized the proposal, describing public executions as degrading, cruel or a public spectacle.
Arguments for Publicity
Hegseth said making the execution public would demonstrate that serious consequences follow such attacks.
Possible security and social effects
Opponents of Livestreaming
Joe Kent and Senator Jack Reed warned a livestream could provide propaganda for terrorist recruiters and damage US interests and values.
Arguments for Publicity
Hegseth argued that public visibility could communicate consequences; the reports do not describe a direct response from him to the propaganda concerns.
- Scheduled date
- December 3
- Planned method
- Firing squad
- Location
- Fort Hood, Texas
- Attack toll
- 13 people were killed; reports say 30 or 32 were wounded
- Livestream status
- Hegseth said the execution would be public and a Pentagon official said it would be livestreamed; Trump says he is still deciding
- Vance's position
- He doubts the livestream will happen and says he will not watch if it does
- Historical context
- Reports say the last US military firing-squad execution was in 1945; the last military execution by any method was in 1961
Sources
Vance says he won’t watch livestream of execution; Trump remains silent
Republican opposition widens to livestreamed execution; Trump still weighing it – ThePrint – ReutersFeed
"Won't Watch It": JD Vance Doubts Livestream Of Fort Hood Shooter's Execution
Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan's execution set for December 3: What we know about the livestream row