A YouGov poll conducted between October 10 and October 12, 2026, found that 69 percent of Americans oppose broadcasting executions live to the public. The survey results were released following a Department of Defense announcement that the December 3 execution of Nidal Hasan, convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, would be available for public viewing via livestream.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others at the Texas military base. During his trial, where he represented himself, Hasan stated that the evidence would show he was the shooter. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously announced that the public would be permitted to view the execution, which is scheduled to be carried out by firing squad.
The YouGov survey of 1,402 respondents showed that 18 percent favored livestreamed executions, while 13 percent were not sure. Among political groups, 87 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of independents, and 52 percent of Republicans opposed the practice. In contrast, a 51 percent majority of all respondents favored the death penalty in general for murder, while 30 percent opposed it and 19 percent were unsure.
President Donald Trump stated over the weekend that he endorsed the use of the firing squad for Hasan but noted he "wasn’t involved in that decision" regarding the livestream. He told reporters he would eventually make a final decision on the matter. Vice President J.D. Vance stated last week that he would not watch the broadcast and expressed uncertainty as to whether the livestream would ultimately occur.
The scale of the opposition spans political lines, affecting a majority of those surveyed. The poll found that even among those who support the death penalty, 55 percent oppose livestreaming the event. Readers would notice the impact through the presence or absence of a government-sanctioned broadcast on digital platforms, a move that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially authorized but which President Trump has stated is still under his review.
The knock-on effects of this decision involve the precedent for future federal and military executions. A confirmed livestream could establish a new standard for transparency or government-conducted media in the judicial process, while a reversal would maintain the traditional privacy of the execution chamber. The next steps depend on a final decision by President Trump ahead of the scheduled December 3 execution date. According to the poll, 46 percent of Americans prefer lethal injection if the death penalty is used, compared to 31 percent who support the firing squad method currently planned for Hasan.