Speaking to reporters in Lima, Ohio, on Friday, Vice President J.D. Vance stated that he would not view a live broadcast of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan’s execution, should the Department of Defense proceed with its proposal. The event is scheduled for December.
“I’ve seen those announcements. I don’t know if that’s actually going to happen,” Vance told journalists, expressing uncertainty about whether the livestream would ultimately take place. He further characterized the notion of broadcasting the execution as contentious, adding, “This is a guy who committed…”, though his remarks were cut short by the source excerpt.
Vance’s comments come amid ongoing discussion within the Trump administration regarding the treatment of Hassan, who was convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously suggested that the execution could be streamed publicly as a deterrent and transparency measure.
As of now, no final decision has been made by the Pentagon on whether the execution will be televised. Vance emphasized that regardless of the outcome, he personally would not be watching.
Vance is smart to stay away. Even if it happens, I wouldn’t watch either. Some things shouldn’t be entertainment.
Is a public execution really a deterrent? That sounds more like vengeance than justice. I hope the Pentagon backs off.