Army caught off guard by order to make firing squad execution public

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly surprised the Pentagon and the U.S. Army with his announcement that the upcoming firing squad execution of convicted Fort Hood mass shooter Nidal Hasan would be made public, specifically livestreamed. The execution is scheduled for December 3rd at Fort Hood, Texas, and would mark the first military execution by firing squad since World War II and potentially the first legally sanctioned public execution in the U.S. in 90 years. Hegseth stated the public viewing was intended to emphasize the serious consequences of such actions.

The decision to livestream the execution of Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 32 others in 2009, sparked immediate questions within the Army and Pentagon regarding the definition of "public" and its implications. While Army regulations allow certain individuals like family and media to witness executions, the move to livestream it has generated significant backlash from service members, veterans, and across the political spectrum. Critics have called the plan "disturbing," "disgusting," and "medieval," drawing comparisons to practices in countries like North Korea and Iran, and arguing it diminishes American values.

President Donald Trump has expressed support for the death penalty in this case, but on Saturday, October 10, 2026, stated he had not yet made a final decision on whether the execution would be livestreamed. The UN human rights office has also weighed in, suggesting a livestream would be "tantamount to a public execution and would breach the absolute prohibition of torture". The situation has raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of broadcasting an execution and whether military personnel can decline to participate if they consider the order unlawful.