Pentagon officials confirmed Thursday that the Army will livestream the firing‑squad execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood on December 3. Hasan was convicted in 2009 of killing 13 and wounding 32, and the Army said the execution would take place at Fort Hood’s firing‑squad range.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the conservative TV outlet Real America’s Voice that the execution would be "public"—a first in more than six decades of U.S. military executions. Hegseth’s remarks followed a broader debate over the death penalty’s methods, especially after the botched lethal‑injection of Christa Pike in Tennessee.
Legal scholars warn the livestream could trigger legal challenges. Eugene R. Fidell of Yale Law said Hasan could file a habeas petition that might delay the execution beyond the current administration. Deborah Denno of Fordham said transparency could benefit the public, while Brenner Fissell of Villanova said firing squads are seen as a cleaner alternative.
The decision has drawn scrutiny from the White House, which said it was following Pentagon guidance. Trump, who approved Hasan’s execution, has previously warned against public executions in Iran, arguing that spectacle can fuel unrest. The Army will broadcast the execution on its official channels, with viewing details to be released.