Trump bans live broadcast of Nidal Hasan's execution but retains death sentence by firing squad

Shift in approach to punishment publicity

US President Donald Trump has decided not to broadcast the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan live. This change concerns the carrying out of the death sentence, which was handed down for the murder of 13 people at Fort Hood military base in 2009. Previously, the Pentagon planned to make this event available to a wide audience, but the head of state cancelled this intention.

This became known on 15 October, when Trump published a corresponding message on his social network. He confirmed that Hasan would be executed by firing squad, as planned, but without video recording for general viewing. Instead, the closest relatives of the deceased will have the opportunity to be personally present at the site of the execution.

President's position on the broadcast

In his address, Donald Trump reminded the public of the scale of the tragedy: former Army Major Hasan killed 13 people, including a pregnant servicewoman, and caused serious injuries to another 32 people.

«Я думаю, що трансляція страти для загального перегляду могла б стати сильним стримувальним фактором, щоб світ побачив, як Америка поводиться з терористами та покидьками на кшталт Хасана. Але багато дуже хороших і доброзичливих людей воліли б не спостерігати за його смертю – ані через трансляцію, ані за допомогою будь-яких інших візуальних засобів» (I think that broadcasting the execution for general viewing could have been a strong deterrent, so the world could see how America deals with terrorists and scum like Hasan. But many very good and well-meaning people would prefer not to watch his death – neither through a broadcast nor by any other visual means), wrote the president.

Adding that «Він помре, як і заплановано, через розстріл, але ця подія не транслюватиметься» (He will die, as planned, by firing squad, but this event will not be broadcast), Trump emphasised the right of the victims' families to be witnesses to justice: «Вони заслуговують побачити правосуддя!» (They deserve to see justice!)

Context of the decision and public reaction

Previously, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the execution would be shown live, arguing this with the need to demonstrate to society the serious consequences of such crimes. «Ми подбаємо про те, щоб люди могли це побачити, щоб це було доступно для громадськості. Тому що люди мають розуміти, що за такими діями настають серйозні наслідки» (We will make sure that people can see it, so that it is available to the public. Because people must understand that such actions are followed by serious consequences), Hegseth explained.

However, this Pentagon decision caused significant public resonance and criticism among both Democrats and Republicans. In particular, US Vice President JD Vance opposed the broadcast, stating that he himself would not watch it. After this, in October, Trump ordered the sentence to be carried out, approving Hegseth's proposal for execution by firing squad.

Case details and execution date

The execution is scheduled for 3 December 2026 at Fort Hood military base in Texas. This event will be the first case of an American military personnel being executed by firing squad since 1945.

Nidal Malik Hasan was a US Army military psychiatrist. On 5 November 2009, he opened fire at Fort Hood base. During the attack, Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar", which translates from Arabic as "God is great". The shooting took place a few weeks before he was scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan.

During his arrest, police officers wounded Hasan, as a result of which he was paralysed below the waist and was forced to use a wheelchair.