US President Donald Trump has withdrawn plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former US Army psychiatrist responsible for the deadly 2009 shooting at Fort Hood in Texas.
Trump had earlier supported broadcasting Hasan’s execution by firing squad, arguing that showing the punishment could discourage terrorism. However, he changed his position following widespread criticism from human rights organisations and members of the public in the United States and other countries.
Announcing the decision on Thursday, Trump said some people opposed to the broadcast had good intentions.
“Many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die,” he said.
The president explained that he had initially viewed the livestream as a possible warning to others who might engage in terrorism.
“I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added that the decision to cancel the broadcast would not affect the planned execution.
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” the president said.
Hasan killed 13 unarmed US military personnel and wounded 32 others during the shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in November 2009.
The US military announced that his execution would take place on December 3, 2026, making it the first military execution in the United States in more than 60 years.
Although the execution will no longer be broadcast publicly, Trump said relatives of the victims would still be allowed to attend and witness it in person if they wished.
The Pentagon’s earlier announcement that the execution would be livestreamed sparked strong reactions, with human rights advocates and other critics questioning the decision to turn a death sentence into a public spectacle.
The United Nations also condemned the proposal, describing the planned broadcast as abhorrent.
Figures from Amnesty International show that thousands of executions were recorded worldwide in 2025. However, public executions were reported in only two countries.
The organisation documented 11 public executions in Iran and six in Afghanistan during the year, highlighting how uncommon the practice remains internationally.
Trump cancels planned livestream of Fort Hood attacker’s execution