Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, will face a public execution in December. Convicted of killing 13 people and injuring over 30 during a 2009 attack at Fort Hood, Texas, Hasan’s verdict includes a death penalty by firing squad. President Donald Trump has approved this execution for December 3 at 1 p.m. at Fort Hood.
The shooting occurred amid the ongoing “War on Terrorism.” Investigations concluded that Hasan’s actions were motivated by extremist beliefs. Evidence includes his pre-attack emails with Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda-linked cleric, and Hasan’s own court statements where he claimed to have acted in defense of the Taliban.
Hegseth’s comments came during a trip to Ohio and Wisconsin as part of his Arsenal of Freedom tour. This marked his first public statement since President Trump rejected plans to livestream Hasan’s execution. Hegseth expressed agreement with Trump, emphasizing the appropriateness of the death penalty. He highlighted the deterrent effect of the execution, which he believes remains regardless of livestreaming.
In an earlier statement, Trump reaffirmed the decision for Hasan to die by firing squad. This makes Hasan the first U.S. military prisoner executed since 1961, and the first by firing squad since World War II. While Trump’s approval advances the military death penalty process, further court challenges may delay the execution.
Hegseth advocated for a livestream of the execution, which faced bipartisan opposition. Consequently, Trump decided against livestreaming, citing public sensitivity and the strong deterrent message sent by the execution itself. Immediate family members of the victims can choose to witness Hasan’s death.
The proposal for livestreaming faced intense backlash, including concerns from victims’ relatives and bipartisan political dissent. This led to a reconsideration of the plan, with Vice President JD Vance also expressing doubts about the livestream.
Hegseth’s Arsenal of Freedom Tour
In January, Hegseth initiated the Arsenal of Freedom tour to support the defense industrial base. This week, he visited Dayton, Ohio, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, engaging with workers in the defense industry. His stops included Riverside Machine & Engineering in Wisconsin, and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Aviation Innovation and Technology Center in Ohio.