US Defense Secretary Hegseth Announces Livestream of Hasan Firing‑Squad Execution
The Dec. 3 firing‑squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will be streamed online, the first public U.S. execution since 1937.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that the Dec. 3 firing‑squad execution of former Army major Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed, making it the first public execution in the United States in nearly a century.
What happened
Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, is scheduled for execution by firing squad on Dec. 3, 2026 at Fort Hood, Texas. Hegseth told right‑wing activist Jack Posobiec that the execution will be broadcast online so “people are able to watch it, that it’s public.” The Pentagon has not disclosed which platforms will carry the stream.
What the reports add
The Independent reported that the livestream announcement came amid renewed debate over capital punishment after a botched lethal‑injection execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee on Oct. 1, 2026. Mashable added that the livestream would be the first public execution since 1937 and the first U.S. military firing‑squad execution since 1961. Both outlets cite Hegseth’s statement that the method is a “no‑brainer” and “as it should be.”
What was said
“He’s gonna get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be. We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that there are serious consequences for these types of things,” Hegseth said, as reported by The Independent.
In an interview quoted by Mashable, Hegseth reiterated, “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”
How it came about
Earlier coverage by Felo News on Oct. 8 detailed Hegseth’s announcement of a livestream for Hasan’s execution (Pentagon to livestream Fort Hood shooter’s firing‑squad execution on Dec 3). The plan follows a recent wave of scrutiny over the death‑penalty system after the failed lethal‑injection of Tennessee inmate Christa Pike on Oct. 1, 2026, which sparked legal challenges and a statewide pause on executions.
Key facts
- Nidal Hasan's execution is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026 at Fort Hood, Texas. (independent.co.uk)
- The execution will be carried out by firing squad. (mashable.com)
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the execution will be livestreamed. (independent.co.uk)
- It would be the first public execution in the U.S. since 1937. (mashable.com)
- It would be the first U.S. military firing‑squad execution since 1961. (mashable.com)
Timeline
- 2009-11-05 — Fort Hood shooting by Nidal Hasan kills 13 and wounds 32.
- 2026-09-30 — Botched lethal‑injection execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee.
- 2026-10-01 — Christa Pike survives second lethal‑injection attempt.
- 2026-10-08 — Felo News reports Pentagon plan to livestream Hasan's execution.
- 2026-10-09 — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces livestream of Hasan's execution.
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk
- [2] mashable.com
