By Ari’ Browley
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan has been canceled by President Donald Trump.
Hasan, a former U.S. Army major and physician, was convicted of the 2009 mass shooting at the Fort Hood military base that killed 13 and wounded 32. Since the shooting, Hasan is serving his death row sentence at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, permanently paralyzed from the waist down.
On Friday, Oct. 9, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military would be livestreaming the execution of Hasan by firing squad, a declaration that seemed too far-fetched to Grand Rapids Community College students and, at the time, was undecided by President Donald Trump.
GRCC students’ belief that the public execution of Nidal Hasan won’t go through was confirmed on Thursday, Oct. 15, when President Trump announced through his Truth Social that the planned livestreamed execution is canceled. However, Trump clarified that the execution of Hasan by firing squad will still be carried out and will be viewed by the victims’ family members.
“…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,” the social media post read.
“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.”
The idea that the U.S. would consider hosting a public execution still fuels disagreements between Americans, along with the already polarizing discussion surrounding the death penalty.
