US to livestream firing-squad execution of Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan on December 3
In short
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on October 8 that the firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people in a 2009 shooting at an army base in Texas, will be made public and streamed live online. The execution is scheduled for December 3 at 1 p.m. at the base where the attack took place, Japanese outlets reported. The plan drew criticism from Democrats and from Republican Senator Tillis.
Read the full story 2 min read
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on October 8 that the firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, scheduled for December 3, will be made public and streamed live on the internet, Japanese outlets reported. In an interview with conservative US media, Hegseth said people need to understand that such acts carry serious consequences. Livedoor quoted him as saying the execution would be made public so that anyone can watch it. Asahi reported that the Pentagon then confirmed it would livestream the execution and said details would follow; NHK and Yomiuri also reported that a Pentagon official said it would be streamed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Hasan, 56, a former US Army psychiatrist and former major, opened fire at an army base in Texas in 2009, killing 13 people and injuring 32, according to Asahi and Livedoor. TBS identified the base as Fort Hood. He was sentenced to death by a military court in 2013. Asahi reported that the Pentagon announced on October 5 that President Trump had approved execution by firing squad, and Yomiuri, citing AP, also said Trump approved it. Yomiuri quoted Hegseth as saying a radical Islamist had betrayed his homeland and killed many Americans. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The execution is to be carried out at the base where the shooting took place at 1 p.m., the time the attack occurred, according to Nippon TV and Livedoor; Asahi said it was set for a Thursday at 1 p.m., as in the attack. Asahi quoted Hegseth as saying a firing squad would be the first since World War II and that he likes the mentality of that era. TBS reported that the US military has not carried out a firing-squad execution since 1945. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Asahi reported immediate criticism from Democratic lawmakers and from within Trump's Republican Party, quoting Senator Tillis as saying public executions are what oppressive dictatorships such as Iran and Afghanistan do and should not happen in the United States. Nippon TV and Livedoor, citing US media, said ethical concerns have been raised and that the US has not held a public execution since 1936, or in about 90 years. Yomiuri said criticism on humanitarian grounds is likely. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
Asahi noted that Trump issued an executive order in January 2025 reviving the death penalty and that the administration added firing squad, electric chair and gas as execution methods for the most serious federal crimes. Asahi also said the Army had reportedly drawn up a plan to carry out executions once approved by the president, including arrangements for press witnesses. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
According to US media cited by Japanese outlets, the United States has not held a public execution since 1936, and TBS reported that the US military has not carried out a firing-squad execution since 1945. Outlets reported ethical objections to the plan, and Yomiuri said criticism on humanitarian grounds is likely.
Key facts
- Defense Secretary Hegseth said on October 8 that Hasan's firing-squad execution will be streamed live. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The execution is scheduled for December 3. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Hasan shot and killed 13 people at an army base in Texas in 2009; Asahi and Livedoor reported 32 were injured. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The execution is to take place at the base where the shooting happened, at 1 p.m., the time the attack occurred. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Hasan is a former US Army psychiatrist and former major who was sentenced to death by a military court in 2013. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Pentagon announced on October 5 that President Trump had approved execution by firing squad. [ 1 ]
- According to US media, the US has not held a public execution since 1936. [ 2 ]
- TBS reported that the US military has not carried out a firing-squad execution since 1945. [ 4 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Pentagon plans to livestream Hasan's execution, as stated on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The firing-squad execution is scheduled for December 3. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Hasan killed 13 people in a 2009 shooting at an army base in Texas. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Hegseth said people need to understand that such acts carry serious consequences. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- The execution is to be carried out at the base at 1 p.m., the time of the 2009 attack. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The shooting injured 32 people. [ 1 , 6 ]
- President Trump approved the firing-squad execution. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Ethical concerns have been raised about the plan. [ 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- How and on which platform the execution will be streamed. Asahi reported the Pentagon said details would be announced later.
- How long it has been since a comparable execution in the US. Outlets measure differently: US media cited by Nippon TV say no public execution since 1936, Livedoor says about 90 years, TBS says no US military firing-squad execution since 1945, and Hegseth spoke of the first since World War II.
- Who the victims were. NHK described the 13 dead as soldiers, while Asahi and Livedoor said US soldiers and others were killed.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 9: Asahi Shimbun reports the Pentagon plan to livestream the December execution. [ 1 ]
- October 9: Nippon TV News reports Hegseth's announcement of the December 3 livestream. [ 2 ]
- October 9: NHK reports a Pentagon official confirmed the livestream. [ 3 ]
- October 9: TBS reports the US military's first firing-squad execution since 1945 will be streamed. [ 4 ]
- October 9: Yomiuri Shimbun reports Hegseth's remarks and that Trump approved the execution, citing AP. [ 5 ]
- December 3 (local time at the base): scheduled time of the execution, matching the time of the 2009 attack. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]