Trump Makes U-Turn, Says Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution Won’t Be Livestreamed

United States President Donald Trump has reversed his position on livestreaming the execution of former US Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, convicted over the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, saying the planned firing squad execution will not be broadcast online.

Trump announced the decision on Thursday following criticism of his earlier proposal to livestream the execution, citing concerns from people who did not want to watch Hasan die.

“Many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die,” the president said.

Trump had previously supported broadcasting the execution, arguing that making the punishment public could deter terrorism by showing how the United States deals with convicted terrorists.

“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,” Trump said.

However, Vice-President JD Vance had expressed doubts about whether the broadcast would take place, adding that he would not watch it.

Despite abandoning the livestream plan, Trump maintained that Hasan would still face execution by firing squad as scheduled.

“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” the president added.

Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood, a military base in Texas, in 2009.

His planned execution by firing squad would mark the first military execution in more than 60 years.