Pentagon Plans to Livestream Nidal Hasan’s Execution in December

World 06:01 PM - 2026-10-09

Nidal Hassan

The US Department of Defence (the Pentagon) has announced plans to livestream the execution of former US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood in Texas.

The execution is scheduled to take place by firing squad at Fort Hood on 3 December at 1pm local time, according to US military authorities. The announcement follows US President Donald Trump’s approval on 2 October to proceed with the execution, acting on the recommendation of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

A Pentagon official confirmed that the execution would be broadcast live online, although further details about the livestream have yet to be disclosed. Hegseth had previously expressed his intention to make the execution public, arguing that it would demonstrate the consequences of committing such crimes.

Who Is Nidal Hasan?

Nidal Malik Hasan, 56, is a psychiatrist and former US Army major who provided mental health services to military personnel before carrying out one of the deadliest shootings at a US military installation.

On 5 November 2009, Hasan opened fire inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Centre at Fort Hood, killing 13 people and injuring 32 others. At the time, several military personnel were preparing for overseas deployment. The attack shocked the United States and reignited concerns about security at military bases.

Hasan was wounded during the intervention by security forces and was subsequently left paralysed. He was later tried before a military court. In August 2013, a military jury found him guilty on all 42 charges and recommended the death penalty. The sentence was formally imposed later that month.

During his trial, Hasan admitted to carrying out the attack and stated that he had acted in support of the Taliban, according to US media reports.

A Precedent in US Military History

If carried out as scheduled, the execution would mark the first time the US Army has executed a prisoner by firing squad since 1945, when Private Eddie Slovik was executed during the Second World War. It would also be the first US military execution by any method since 1961, when Private John Bennett was hanged.

Plans to livestream the execution have raised legal and ethical questions about the public nature of capital punishment, particularly given the unprecedented proposal to broadcast a US military execution online.

Although Trump has approved the execution and a date has been announced, further legal action could potentially affect the schedule. The US Army has stated that the appellate process has been completed and the conviction and sentence upheld. Any further legal challenge would therefore need to be considered in that context.


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