Trump Scraps Plan to Livestream Nidal Hasan’s Military Execution
U.S. President Donald Trump has called off plans to broadcast the military execution of Nidal Hasan, announcing the reversal in an Oct. 15 Truth Social post. The decision removes a looming dilemma for social media platforms, which had been expected to face pressure over whether to carry the stream.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had said in a podcast interview with Jack Posobiec that the public would get the chance to watch. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and injured 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and was sentenced to death in 2013. Reuters reported on Oct. 6 that Trump ordered a firing squad, and the Pentagon announced the livestream two days later.
Why Trump Changed Course
Trump wrote that streaming the execution might have deterred terrorists, but said many well-meaning people “would rather not watch him die.” According to NBC, he soured on the idea after learning Hasan was paralyzed by injuries sustained in the 2009 attack. Trump added that the victims’ families will be able to view the execution privately.
Hegseth had not explained the logistics of a broadcast, and no platform was officially named as host. Still, signs suggested social networks would be asked to stream the event, which drew strong condemnation.
Relief for Social Platforms
The reversal means platforms will not have to deal with the political and reputational fallout of either allowing or refusing the broadcast. Executives at the major apps are likely relieved, given the delicate balance they are maintaining with the administration. It also means the public probably will not learn where each company stood.
Meta and X in particular have shown a clear willingness to follow the administration’s demands on content moderation and third-party fact-checking during Trump’s second term. That track record had made many observers curious how far other platforms would go to align with Trump’s wishes, a question that now goes unanswered.