Brief
Fort Hood survivors praise Trump for canceling livestream of Hasan execution
Survivors said the move avoids turning the execution into a spectacle and prevents terrorist propaganda.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Survivors of the 2009 Fort Hood massacre said they welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to scrap a planned livestream of Nidal Hasan’s execution, scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026 at Fort Hood, Texas. The change follows criticism that broadcasting the firing‑squad execution could become a propaganda tool for terrorist groups.
What happened
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had announced that the execution would be streamed online, prompting backlash from families of the victims. On Thursday, Trump announced via Truth Social that the execution would proceed by firing squad but would not be broadcast to the general public; only immediate families would be allowed to attend in person.
What the reports add
The New York Post article notes that Alonzo Lunsford, who was shot seven times by Hasan during the 2009 attack, called the decision a “positive move,” saying it shows America is “not barbaric.” Lunsford warned that footage could be seized by ISIS or al‑Qaeda for recruitment. Civilian employee Julia Wilson, who was nine months pregnant during the shooting, also expressed relief, saying she was “worried about other people’s mental health” and that the government had not considered the impact of a livestream.
What was said
"It proves that we are a better people, a better nation, and that we’re not barbaric," Lunsford told Fox News Digital, as reported by the Post. "We don’t glorify such actions." Wilson told the same outlet, "I’m worried about other people’s mental health. I don’t think the government really put a lot of thought into how this was going to go down until today." Both survivors emphasized that the execution should not become a “pay‑per‑view event or a WWE wrestling match.”
How it came about
The decision follows a series of announcements: Defense Secretary Hegseth initially said the execution would be livestreamed, then President Trump reversed that plan after survivor backlash. The execution will be the first U.S. military firing‑squad execution since World War II, and the first since 1961, according to earlier Pentagon statements.
Key facts
- President Trump announced the Dec. 3, 2026 execution of Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed. (nypost.com)
- Survivor Alonzo Lunsford praised the decision, calling it a positive move. (nypost.com)
- Civilian employee Julia Wilson expressed relief, citing mental‑health concerns over a livestream. (nypost.com)
- The execution will be carried out by firing squad at Fort Hood, Texas. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Trump praised by Fort Hood survivors for scrapping ‘barbaric’ Nidal Hasan execution livestream”
