Trump Says He Will Decide Whether Military Execution of Fort Hood Shooter Is Livestreamed
President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Saturday that he will ultimately make the decision on whether to livestream the firing-squad execution of Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the 2009 Fort Hood shooter whose attack killed 13 people and wounded more than 30. "There are two thoughts: don't show it and show it," Trump said. "By showing it, maybe other people won't be doing what he did. So I'll make a decision, ultimately. I know what the military would like to do, but we'll make a decision."
On Oct. 8, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon would make public a livestream of Hasan's execution, sparking immediate backlash from both Democrats and Republicans who called it the behavior of dictators and terrorist organizations. Trump did not make his own position clear on Saturday, a day after saying Hasan "deserves it," when it was unclear whether he meant the execution itself or the livestream.
This would be the first U.S. military execution in 65 years. Vice President JD Vance said on Oct. 9 that he would not watch if it were livestreamed and that he was not sure it would actually happen. Pope Leo XIV spoke out against the death penalty on Oct. 10.
When asked whether he would allow the livestream to be broadcast, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said he would "defer to" Hegseth, adding that his understanding is that it would not air on broadcast television, so there is little role for the FCC.
The White House has not released a timetable for the execution. With the controversy growing, Trump's final decision is expected to become a continued flashpoint between the parties and faith communities.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / 美国国会图书馆，公有领域（Wikimedia Commons）
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