Trump says Fort Hood shooter’s execution will not be livestreamed

Trump posted on Truth Social that the Dec. 3 execution will not be streamed, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a livestream.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:10:24 GMT

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the firing‑squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed, overturning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier announcement.

What happened

Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad at 1 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2026 at the Texas Army installation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had said the execution would be streamed online, a plan that sparked bipartisan criticism.

What the reports add

Variety reported that Trump’s Truth Social post called Hasan a “very bad and evil man” and claimed the FBI under President Barack Obama failed to analyse intercepted communications between Hasan and cleric Anwar al‑Awlaki. The same outlet quoted Trump as saying streaming the execution might deter the world but that many “good and well‑meaning people” would not want to watch. CBS News reproduced Trump’s exact wording from Truth Social and noted that the execution is set for Dec. 3 at 1 p.m., as previously announced by Hegseth.

What was said

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well‑meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device,” and added, “He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.” (Variety; CBS News)

How it came about

Earlier coverage by Felo News detailed Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution (Pentagon to livestream Fort Hood shooter’s firing‑squad execution on Dec 3) and survivor Alonzo Lunsford’s opposition to a public broadcast (Fort Hood survivor plans to attend Nidal Hasan’s livestreamed execution). Legal scholars had raised questions about standing to challenge the livestream, and Vice President JD Vance said he would not watch it (US officials defend plan to livestream Fort Hood shooter’s execution amid legal doubts). Trump’s reversal now adds the President’s direct intervention to the debate.

Key facts

President Donald Trump announced the execution will not be livestreamed. (variety.com)
Nidal Hasan is scheduled for execution by firing squad on Dec. 3, 2026 at Fort Hood, Texas. (cbsnews.com)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously said the execution would be livestreamed. (variety.com)