WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – President Donald Trump has privately expressed doubts about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial proposal to livestream the firing squad execution of Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan, according to reporting by Axios cited by The New Republic. The shift follows a wave of bipartisan pushback and concerns from lawmakers that broadcasting the lethal event could inadvertently serve as a terrorist recruiting tool.
The debate centers on the scheduled December 3 execution of Hasan, a 56-year-old former Army psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers and wounded 32 others during a mass shooting at the Texas military post in 2009. Hegseth announced last week that Hasan would face the first military execution since 1961, adding an unprecedented plan to stream the event publicly to demonstrate serious consequences for such crimes, as reported by The Daily Beast.
Weighing Political Backlash and Security Risks
Initially, President Trump expressed vocal support for the measure, telling reporters at the White House last Friday that he “absolutely” approved the plan. By Saturday, however, Trump acknowledged the complexity of the decision, noting that he would make the final call. “There are two thoughts: don’t show it and show it. Because, you know, by showing it maybe other people won’t be doing what he did,” Trump told reporters, as noted by NBC New York.
Behind closed doors, the tone has shifted. According to Axios and The Daily Beast, Trump has been calling advisers and associates to gauge opinions, with sources indicating he does not sound particularly enthusiastic and suggesting the broadcast “might not happen.” The private hesitation follows sharp condemnation from several prominent Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned in a CBS News interview over the weekend that the broadcast risked becoming a recruiting video for future extremists. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the idea “beyond disgusting,” comparing public executions to practices in oppressive regimes like Iran and Afghanistan. Representative Austin Scott of Georgia similarly criticized the proposal on social media, stating that live-streaming executions mirrors the tactics of jihadists.
Administration Divisions and Next Steps
Other senior administration figures have also moved to distance themselves from the spectacle. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that while he supports justice for the victims of the 2009 attack, he would not be watching the livestream should the administration proceed with it.
With the December 3 execution date approaching, the White House faces a stark choice between fulfilling a retributive public display and avoiding the risk of creating a martyr out of an aging, wheelchair-bound inmate. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the internal deliberations, leaving the final decision on the broadcast format entirely in the hands of the president.
Additional scrutiny has emerged from congressional offices, where lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have questioned the propriety of turning a military execution into a widely accessible public viewing event. Representative Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania argued on social media that an execution should not be treated as a livestreamed spectacle, emphasizing that the focus must remain squarely on justice for the victims and their families rather than transforming capital punishment into public entertainment. Similarly, Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan publicly urged Secretary Hegseth to seriously reconsider the decision.
Supporters of the transparency measure, including prominent conservative allies such as Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress, have argued that a public execution reinforces the severity of accountability for mass violence. Trump himself acknowledged this argument when sharing supportive commentary on digital platforms over the weekend. Yet, as internal discussions continue, aides note that the reality of executing an aging inmate who uses a wheelchair has further complicated the optics for an administration attempting to balance deterrence with the solemnity traditionally associated with military justice.
Reporting source: newrepublic.com.