Lawmakers from both parties have welcomed Donald Trump’s decision to cancel the livestream of Nidal Hasan’s execution. Hasan, a US army doctor, was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin expressed her relief on social media, saying, “Good. So sick to have ever considered this.” Meanwhile, Iowa Republican Senator John Curtis stated, “This is the right move, both for the loved ones of the victims and for the country.” He previously cautioned that broadcasting the execution could foster a disturbing appetite for executions as entertainment and would not serve as an effective deterrent.
According to an Axios report, Trump privately voiced concerns about the Pentagon’s initial plan to livestream the execution.
The decision follows significant bipartisan backlash against the proposal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to broadcast Hasan’s execution online. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced, “Many very good and well-meaning people would rather not watch him die… He [Hasan] will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.”
Polling data indicates that 80% of Americans oppose livestreaming the execution, with 64% of Republicans sharing this view. However, a majority of the population, 53%, still support the execution by firing squad.
Overall, the cancellation reflects a broader ethical debate about the role of executions in the public sphere.
