In brief
Donald Trump has retracted his earlier announcement that the execution of Fort Hood attacker Nidal Hasan would be livestreamed. The president cited widespread public discomfort with a live broadcast and said the event would proceed but not be streamed. Vice‑President JD Vance had already questioned whether the execution would take place and declared he would not watch it. Hasan’s death by firing squad would mark the first military execution in over six decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called off plans to livestream the execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan by firing squad.
Although the president had previously approved an online broadcast of the Fort Hood attacker’s death, the Vice‑President JD Vance had cast doubt over whether the execution would actually take place and announced that he would not view it.
Facing mounting criticism over a public display, Trump said on Thursday that “many very good and well‑meaning people would rather not watch him die.”
He added that the execution “would be a strong deterrent for the world to witness how America deals with terrorists and scum like Hasan.”
Trump confirmed that Hasan will die as scheduled by firing squad, but the event will not be streamed.
Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed U.S. soldiers at a Texas military base in 2009, injuring another 32. His execution would be the first military execution in more than 60 years.
This story is being updated. Please refresh for the latest details.
To receive breaking news on your smartphone or tablet, install the BBC News App or follow @BBCBreaking on X for live alerts.
