Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution of Fort Hood Shooter; Hegseth Says It Will Be Livestreamed
October 9, 2026 | Fugitive Watch News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has approved the execution of former U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the convicted gunman responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood massacre in Texas, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the execution will be made available for the public to watch.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted of murdering 13 people and wounding 32 others during a shooting rampage at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009. The installation was formerly known as Fort Hood, later renamed Fort Cavazos, before returning to the Fort Hood designation.
The Army announced that Hasan will be executed by firing squad on December 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. Central Time, at the same military installation where the killings occurred. Trump approved the death sentence on October 2, following recommendations from military leadership.
www.army.mil
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Speaking in an interview with conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, Hegseth defended the execution and promised public access.
“We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public,” Hegseth declared, arguing that the punishment would demonstrate serious consequences for such crimes.
On October 8, Pentagon officials confirmed that the execution would be livestreamed, although details about the broadcast platform have not been announced.
Reuters
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Hasan was sentenced to death by a military jury in August 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review his conviction in March 2025.
If carried out, the execution would be the first by the U.S. military since 1961 and its first by firing squad since 1945.
The unprecedented livestream announcement has sparked debate over transparency, punishment and whether broadcasting an execution crosses ethical boundaries. Hasan could still pursue additional legal challenges that might delay the scheduled execution.
ABC News
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