Trump cancels live-stream firing squad execution of ‘very dangerous and evil man’
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously announced that the public would be able to watch firing squad execution of former US army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan
Donald Trump has scrapped the firing squad execution live-stream plans(Image: Getty)
Donald Trump has scrapped plans to stream the Fort Hood attacker’s execution by firing squad. Nidal Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at a Texas military base in 2009 and injured another 32.
His execution by firing squad would be the first military execution in more than 60 years. As criticism over the public display has mounted, Trump said on Thursday that “many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die”.
Writing on Truth Social, the US President said: “Nidal Malik Hasan, a former U.S. Army Major turned traitor, is a very bad and evil man, who killed 13 people, including a pregnant soldier, who died, along with her unborn son, and injured, very seriously, 32 more innocent people
Nidal Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009(Image: Getty Images)
“I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device.
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed. That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose. They deserve to witness JUSTICE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
It comes after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the execution would be live-streamed, sparking international backlash and accusations of ‘barbarism’.
Hasan’s firing squad execution will be the first in the US for more than 60 years(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Speaking to conservative TV channel Real America’s Voice News on Wednesday last week, Hegseth said: “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public.”
Hasan was found guilty of murdering 13 people and wounding an additional 32 in a 2009 shooting at the military base.
When asked if Hasan had made any final requests or contacted the Trump administration, Hegseth simply responded: “Don’t care. We’ll see him on December 3rd.”
