Trump cancels livestream of US military execution after backlash
US President Donald Trump has canceled plans to livestream the execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan following criticism from lawmakers and human rights advocates. The execution itself remains scheduled to proceed.
In a post on Truth Social on October 15, Trump defended the original plan, saying that broadcasting the execution could have served as a deterrent by showing how the United States deals with terrorists.
However, he acknowledged that “many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die.”
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” Trump wrote.
The president said immediate family members of Hasan's victims would still be permitted to witness the execution in person if they wished.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously announced plans to broadcast the execution live, prompting criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Critics warned that the footage could be exploited for extremist propaganda and radicalization.
The UN Human Rights Office also condemned the proposed broadcast, saying it would amount to a public execution and violate the absolute prohibition of torture.
Hasan, a former US Army major, killed 13 people and wounded 32 others in a shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in November 2009. He was sentenced to death in 2013.
The execution would be the first carried out by the US military since 1961.
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