Donald Trump rejects Pete Hegseth’s livestream execution plan

President Donald Trump rejected plans Thursday to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, breaking with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s wishes.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that while Hasan was “a very bad and evil man,” who would still die by firing squad, his death would not be streamed, despite the president feeling it, “might have been a strong deterrent.”

The president said, “many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device. He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.

“That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose. They deserve to witness JUSTICE!”

Hegseth said in an interview October 8 that he planned to show Hasan’s death publicly, marking the first such public execution in the U.S. for decades. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance pushed back on the idea in the days that followed.

Hasan shot and killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 others in a 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.