Defense Secretary Announces Public Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the upcoming execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, will be broadcast live to the public. Hasan is scheduled to face a firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood, with the execution set for 1 p.m.

Speaking on Real America’s Voice with Jack Posobiec, Hegseth emphasized the transparency of the proceeding. “He’s gonna get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be,” Hegseth said. “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public — because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”

The announcement follows the Trump administration’s approval of the execution plan earlier this week. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated on social media that the decision to employ an Army firing squad was recommended by Hegseth and sanctioned by President Trump.

Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted in 2013 of murdering 13 individuals and injuring more than 30 others during the attack. He acknowledged responsibility at trial, asserting that he targeted fellow service members to protect Islamic insurgents from U.S. military forces, and was subsequently sentenced to death.

If carried out, this will mark the first execution of a U.S. military service member since 1961, when a soldier was hanged for the rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl. It would also represent a rare modern use of the firing squad, a method last utilized in South Carolina three times last year.

Hasan’s legal journey has been marked by lengthy appeals and internal conflicts. He represented himself at trial and reportedly clashed with his court-appointed standby attorneys, who feared he was deliberately maneuvering toward a death sentence. In 2024, Hasan petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing that his right to a public trial had been violated when the courtroom was cleared before private discussions with attorneys. The Court declined to hear the case the following year. CBS News has contacted Hasan’s legal team for comment regarding the execution date.