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Trump Approves Hasan Execution by Firing Squad in December

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 4:37 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Former U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan is scheduled for execution by firing squad in December.
The execution would be the first public execution in the United States in nearly a century.
U.S. President Donald Trump approved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recommendation to carry out the execution.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the livestream proposal, saying he sees no heightened security risk.

History

Historical Context

The United States’ final public execution occurred on August 14 1936 when Governor Happy Chandler authorized the hanging of Rainey Bethea in Owensboro, Kentucky, drawing roughly 20,000 spectators. That spectacle prompted Kentucky to end public hangings and repeal the law in 1938. In 2024 President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed livestreaming Major Nidal Hasan’s firing-squad execution, reviving the historic debate.

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Story summary

Former U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan is scheduled for execution by firing squad in December.
The execution would be the first public execution in the United States in nearly a century.
U.S. President Donald Trump approved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recommendation to carry out the execution.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the livestream proposal, saying he sees no heightened security risk.

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