Trump says Fort Hood shooter's execution will not be livestreamed
Axios · LC · trust 69/100
President Trump said in a Thursday Truth Social post that the execution of the convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad will not be live-streamed. The big picture: The president's post walks back an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pitched last week, setting off an avalanche of bipartisan condemnation. Driving the news: " He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed," Trump's post read. He added, "That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose." Trump noted that he thinks "streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die." That seemingly included Vice President JD Vance , who said he wouldn't watch the execution. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned footage of the execution could become a "recruiting tool for future terrorists." What they're saying: Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement provided to Axios that Trump and Secretary Hegseth discussed the decision ahead of the Truth Social post. Parnell added: "The Secretary supports the President's decision, and they are completely aligned." Catch up quick: The Pentagon previously confirmed that the December execution would be streamed after Hegseth said in an interview with Real America's Voice that it would be made "public." But the plan received swift pushback from Republicans and Democrats in Congress alike, as well as from clergy and survivors of the horrific 2009 attack. Even though most Americans support executing Hasan, a vast majority oppose livestreaming his death by firing squad, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll out Thursday. Representatives for TikTok and Newsmax told Axios their platforms wouldn't allow execution livestreams or clips, Axios' Sara Fischer reported. Friction point: The reversal also comes after Axios' Marc Caputo reported that the president himself was privately expressing doubts about the public execution after being deluged with a chorus of negative sentiment. He was initially full-throated in his approval of the idea — but it took roughly a week for the plan to crumble. Go deeper: Hegseth's public execution plan meets the age of viral violence Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the Pentagon.
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