Full Breakdown
Planned Public Execution of Nidal Hasan by Firing Squad
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan will be executed by firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas. The decision was approved by President Donald J. Trump, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. It would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first firing-squad execution since World War II.
Background & Context
On November 5 2009, Hasan, then a U.S. Army psychiatrist, opened fire in a medical processing building at Fort Hood, killing 13 soldiers and wounding 31. He was convicted in July 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, citing a desire to protect Muslims and the Taliban. The attack remains the deadliest non-combat assault on a U.S. military installation.
The United States has not carried out a public execution since the hanging of Rainey Bethea in Kentucky in 1936. Only Iran and Afghanistan held public executions in 2025, according to Amnesty International. While several U.S. states permit limited in-person viewing by relatives, no jurisdiction has previously livestreamed an execution.
Data & Statistics
- 66 % of U.S. adults support the death penalty, while 32 % oppose it.
- The most recent military execution before this case was a hanging in 1961.
- Amnesty International recorded 2,700 executions across 17 countries in the prior year; only Iran and Afghanistan conducted them publicly.
Official Statements & Responses
- Hegseth told a far-right podcaster the execution would occur at “1 o’clock” on a Thursday, matching the time of the 2009 attack, and that a squad of soldiers would fire.
- President Trump replied, “Don’t care. We’ll see him on December 3rd.”
- Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth recommended the firing-squad method and that Trump approved it, describing the moment as “Judgement day has finally come.”
- Law professor Deborah Denno (Fordham University) argued that a livestream would provide unprecedented transparency.
- Defense attorney John Galligan, representing Hasan in civil matters, called the livestream “abominable” and likened it to a public lynching.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal scholars and civil-rights groups warn a public broadcast could turn Hasan into a martyr for extremist recruiters and violate norms against state-sanctioned spectacle. Rep. Adam Smith argued the approach undermines the rule of law.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Feasibility of livestreaming: The Army has not responded to media inquiries about the technical platform, and major social-media policies generally restrict live streaming of graphic content.
- Legal status: Hasan’s appellate review is ongoing; his lawyer expects to seek a federal habeas petition that could stay the execution.
- Official confirmation: While the Pentagon spokesperson affirmed the plan, the Army has not issued a detailed statement on how the execution will be made public.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public,” — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary
- “Who in their right mind would want to livestream an execution,” — John Galligan, a retired colonel and former military judge
- “ "There is a reason why we treat the meting out of justice with the seriousness it demands," Smith said.” — Rep. Adam Smith
What’s Next
The execution is scheduled for December 3 at 1 p.m. Central Time. Hasan’s legal team is expected to file a federal habeas petition, which could delay the execution pending appellate review. The Army has indicated that further details on the livestream platform will be released later, but no timeline has been provided.