United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, will be conducted via firing squad and made available for public viewing. The announcement was made during a Thursday interview with Real America’s Voice.
Hegseth expressed full support for President Donald Trump’s recent authorization of the method, describing the decision as a “no-brainer.” He emphasized the importance of transparency to ensure the public understands the gravity of such crimes. “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public,” Hegseth told interviewer Jack Posobiec.
The execution is scheduled for December 3 at 1:00 pm US Central Time (19:00 GMT), deliberately chosen to coincide with the time the 2009 shooting occurred. A Department of Defense official confirmed to Al Jazeera that the event will be livestreamed, though further logistical details are pending.
Hasan was sentenced to death in August 2013 after a military jury convicted him of 45 counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder. In 2009, the former Army major entered a processing center at the Texas base, shouted “Allahu akbar,” and opened fire on service members seeking medical attention.
While Hegseth’s comments clarify that the execution will be broadcast, it remains unclear whether soldiers, spectators, or military officials will attend in person. US Army regulations require the selection of at least two media outlets as witnesses. No state or federal execution in US history has ever been televised, and the last public execution in the country took place more than 90 years ago in Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1936.
The last US military execution by firing squad occurred in 1945 for desertion during World War II. The Trump administration added firing squad as an approved method for federal executions in April, alongside gas asphyxiation and electrocution. The White House declined to comment on whether President Trump would witness the execution, directing questions back to the Pentagon.
Does anyone else feel uneasy about the timing being exactly on the anniversary? It seems calculated to maximize attention rather than provide closure.
I struggle with the idea of turning such a tragic event into a televised spectacle. Does this truly serve any purpose beyond satisfying public curiosity?
It’s wild to think about in-person witnesses when no US execution has ever been televised. I hope military observers are actually present at Fort Hood.
How does this affect active-duty soldiers? Forcing them to witness an execution could have serious mental health consequences for the troops.
I need to know why the public broadcast is being prioritized over victim support and healing. This feels more like political theater than justice.