A number of Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to a Department of Defense plan to livestream the upcoming execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the public broadcast would proceed to show "serious consequences" for such crimes, President Donald Trump stated on Saturday, October 10, 2026, that a final decision is still being made.
The scheduled execution follows Hasan’s 2013 conviction on 45 counts of murder and attempted murder for the killing of 13 people and the wounding of 32 others at the Texas military base. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist who is paralyzed from the waist down, stated at the time that the attack was carried out in support of the Taliban. The execution, set for December 3, 2026, would mark the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first by military firing squad since 1945.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters he plans to share the concerns of his colleagues with the White House, citing risks that a broadcast could serve as a "recruiting tool for future terrorists." Other Republicans, including Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Thom Tillis (R-NC), criticized the plan as turning justice into a "public spectacle" or "entertainment." Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) was cited as publicly supporting the broadcast, stating that Hasan deserves a public execution.
The scale of this event involves the first military firing squad in 81 years. The execution is scheduled for December 3 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 2009 attack. For the victims' families, this marks the conclusion of a 17-year legal process since the shooting and 13 years since the death sentence was handed down. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the president must personally approve the death sentence; while the Pentagon reported Trump had signed off on the recommendation, the president later indicated he is weighing "two thoughts" on whether to broadcast the event.
Beyond the immediate case, this sets a precedent for how the U.S. military carries out capital punishment in the digital age. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the proposal as a deterrent, stating that people "need to understand if you attack America, we will come after you." However, opponents like Sen. Murkowski noted that public executions are currently associated with "terrorists and dictators" rather than American judicial practice. The final determination on the broadcast rests with President Trump, who stated he would make the ultimate decision.
What happens next: The execution remains scheduled for December 3, 2026. President Trump has not yet provided a deadline for his final decision on the livestreaming component. Speaker Johnson has indicated he will continue discussions with the White House regarding the policy implications raised by House Republicans. The Pentagon confirmed the firing squad remains the planned method of execution.