Trump cancels planned livestream of former Army major's execution
In short
President Donald Trump said on October 15 that the planned firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan would not be livestreamed. Japanese reports said the execution would proceed as scheduled, with victims' relatives allowed to attend if they wished.
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President Donald Trump said on October 15 that the planned firing-squad execution of former Army major Nidal Malik Hasan would not be livestreamed, according to Japanese reports. The execution itself would proceed as scheduled. Trump announced the decision on social media, saying many people did not want to watch a person's death through a live broadcast or released footage. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
The decision rejected a plan promoted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Nippon TV and Asahi reported that Hegseth announced the broadcast proposal on October 8. Trump had said he would make the final decision. The reports described criticism from lawmakers in both parties, including members of the governing Republican Party, while TBS reported opposition within the administration as well. [ 3 , 6 , 8 ]
Trump maintained that broadcasting the execution might have served as a deterrent but said it would not be shown. He also said victims' relatives could attend in person if they wanted, according to Nippon TV, Tokyo Shimbun and Asahi. The reports distinguished the cancellation of the broadcast from the decision to carry out the execution. [ 3 , 5 , 8 ]
Hasan killed 13 people in a shooting at an Army base in 2009 and received a death sentence in 2013, according to Sankei. Tokyo Shimbun identified the execution date as December 3 at Fort Hood in Texas, the site of the shooting. It reported that Trump had approved execution by firing squad and that planning for the livestream had proceeded under Hegseth. [ 2 , 5 ]
Asahi also cited a CNN report from October 13, based on people familiar with the matter, saying Trump had not known of the broadcast plan before Hegseth announced it. That account said he developed reservations while consulting advisers. The cancellation was subsequently announced in Trump's own social-media post, as described by several outlets. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The decision reverses a broadcast plan advanced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Reports described opposition from both parties, including Republicans, to publicly transmitting the execution.
Key facts
- Trump announced that the execution would not be livestreamed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The execution itself remains scheduled, according to the reports. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reported a December 3 execution date at Fort Hood in Texas. [ 5 ]
- Hasan killed 13 people in a 2009 shooting at a US Army base. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- When Trump first learned of the broadcast plan. Asahi cited an earlier CNN account based on people familiar with the matter saying he learned of it when Hegseth announced it.