U.S. President Donald Trump has called off plans to livestream the execution of former U.S. Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who is scheduled to be put to death by firing squad. The decision came after significant backlash both domestically and internationally.

Trump had previously expressed approval for broadcasting the execution of the Fort Hood attacker, viewing it as a potential deterrent. Vice President JD Vance had previously cast doubt on the livestream happening and stated he would not watch. The planned execution by firing squad will be the first military execution in over 60 years.

In a statement on social media platform Truth Social, Trump explained his reversal, saying, "many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die." He added, "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." He confirmed, "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed."

Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed U.S. military personnel and injured 32 others during a 2009 rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Trump stated that the victims' families would still have the option to view the execution in person, asserting, "They deserve to witness JUSTICE!"

The Pentagon's initial announcement last week to execute Hasan on December 3, 2026, by firing squad and livestream the event, triggered immediate criticism from human rights organizations and other groups. The United Nations described the plans as "abhorrent." Globally, public executions are rare; Amnesty International reported 11 public executions in Iran and six in Afghanistan in 2025.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had initially defended the livestream, arguing that it would demonstrate "serious consequences for these types of things." However, as criticism grew, President Trump appeared to temper his stance, confirming his approval of the livestream but noting that the Pentagon was still finalizing details. He also referred to Hasan as "totally nuts."

Following Trump's announcement to cancel the livestream, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed that Secretary Hegseth had spoken with the President beforehand. "The Secretary supports the President's decision, and they are completely aligned," said the spokesman, Sean Parnell.

John Galligan, a lawyer for Hasan, suggested that the decision to cancel the livestream was expected. He characterized the initial proposal to livestream any execution as a "dumb decision and statement" that violated Army regulations. Galligan also noted that Hasan is paralyzed from the chest down, information he claims Trump was unaware of when initially approving the livestream plan.