The United States military plans to livestream the execution of former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas.
The Pentagon confirmed the planned broadcast on Thursday, October 8, 2026, following comments by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that the execution would be made public.
Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad at Fort Hood on December 3, 2026. If carried out as planned, the execution would mark the first US military execution in more than 65 years and the first by firing squad since 1945.
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Pentagon Confirms Livestream Plans
Hegseth discussed the planned execution during an interview with the conservative media outlet Real America’s Voice on Wednesday.
“We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public,” he said, explaining that the administration wanted the public to understand the consequences of such crimes.
Pentagon officials subsequently confirmed that the execution would be livestreamed, although further details about the broadcast arrangements had not been released as of October 8.
The announcement has drawn attention because of the unusual decision to broadcast a military execution to a wider audience. It also raises questions about the rules governing public access to executions and the ethical implications of televising the death penalty.
What Happened at Fort Hood in 2009?
Hasan carried out the deadly attack on November 5, 2009, at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, a major US Army installation in Texas.
The facility was used by military personnel preparing for deployment, including soldiers heading to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The shooting killed 13 people and left 32 others injured. Twelve of those killed and 30 of the wounded were military personnel.
A civilian police officer responding to the attack shot Hasan, leaving him partially paralysed.
The incident became one of the deadliest shootings at a US military installation and prompted extensive investigations into security procedures and warning signs that might have prevented the attack.
Why Was Hasan Sentenced to Death?
Hasan, a US-born Muslim of Palestinian descent, was an Army psychiatrist who had served in the military before the shooting.
During the investigation, authorities examined his communications with radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen who later died in a US drone strike in Yemen.
Hasan opposed US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prosecutors presented evidence concerning his ideological motivations during his court-martial.
In August 2013, a military jury found him guilty of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder. The jury subsequently sentenced him to death.
The sentence was upheld through the military appeals process, and the US Supreme Court declined to review his case in March 2025.
December 3 Execution Could Mark a Military First
The Army announced that the execution would take place at Fort Hood at 1 p.m. Central Time on December 3, 2026.
President Donald Trump approved the death sentence on October 2, following a recommendation from Defence Secretary Hegseth. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle subsequently set the execution date.
The planned execution would be a rare event in modern US military history. The last execution carried out by the US military took place in 1961, while the last military execution by firing squad occurred in 1945, according to reports.
The proposed livestream has also prompted debate about transparency, the dignity of the condemned prisoner and the role of public broadcasts in capital punishment.
Although the execution date has been announced, the planned event remains subject to any legal developments that could affect its implementation.
Further details about the livestream are expected from Pentagon officials.
