US President Donald Trump has scrapped plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the former US Army psychiatrist convicted of carrying out the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, following criticism from political and religious circles.
Trump confirmed that Hasan’s execution by firing squad would proceed as scheduled but would not be broadcast live, explaining that many well-meaning people would prefer not to witness the execution.
“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,” Trump said.
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” the president added.
Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others during a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in November 2009.
The proposal to livestream his execution was previously raised by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during an interview with conservative broadcaster Real America’s Voice, reported on October 8.
Speaking aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, Hegseth argued that the execution should be made available for public viewing, saying people needed to understand that such crimes carried serious consequences.
However, John Galligan, a lawyer representing Hasan primarily in civil matters, told the BBC that Trump’s decision to abandon the livestream plan was unsurprising.
“It was initially a dumb decision and statement by Hegseth to livestream any execution – and it violated the Army’s own regulation,” Galligan said.
He also disclosed that Hasan is paralysed from the chest down, adding that Trump allegedly did not know about the condition when he approved the proposed broadcast.
“The damage has already been done – the Army is now just trying to clean up the mess,” Galligan said. “It will permanently remain a stain on our military justice system.”
Galligan further noted that it was unclear whether Hasan had been informed of Trump’s decision to reverse the livestream plan.
Hasan’s execution by firing squad would mark the first military execution in more than 60 years.
