Trump Blocks Livestream of Nidal Hasan’s Scheduled Execution by Firing Squad

President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, will not be broadcast live online as initially planned by the Pentagon. Hasan’s execution by firing squad is set for December 3 at 1 p.m. local time in Fort Hood, Texas.

The decision came amid widespread public resistance to streaming the execution, with concerns that such footage could serve as propaganda for extremist groups. Trump addressed the issue in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling Hasan a "very bad and evil man" who betrayed the U.S. Army.

Trump acknowledged that broadcasting the event might have acted as a deterrent by showcasing the consequences for terrorism. However, he recognized the objections of many people who would prefer not to witness the execution through any visual medium. "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed," Trump stated.

He added that the immediate families of the victims would be granted the opportunity to attend in person if they wish to witness the execution, emphasizing that they "deserve to witness JUSTICE!"

The announcement closely followed a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll revealing that 80% of Americans oppose livestreaming the execution, while only 18% support it. The survey sampled 2,545 adults with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon revealed that Trump had approved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recommendation to execute Hasan by firing squad for the mass shooting that took place at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009. That attack resulted in 13 deaths and left 32 others wounded.

On October 8, Hegseth announced that the execution would take place at Fort Hood, stating, "He's going to get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be." He also mentioned plans to make the execution public to demonstrate the serious consequences of such crimes. The Pentagon initially stated that the execution would be livestreamed.

Before Trump’s decision to halt the livestream, it remained unclear which major online platforms would have agreed to broadcast the event. Reports indicated that YouTube, Twitch, Meta, and X did not provide comments on whether they would allow the execution footage. TikTok referred to its guidelines restricting "shocking and graphic content," implying the platform would not permit the video.

Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death following a court-martial in 2013. If carried out, his execution would mark the first death penalty enforced by a U.S. military court since 1961. The last military execution involved Army Private John Bennett, who was hanged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for rape and attempted murder.

CNBC has requested further comment from the Pentagon regarding the latest developments. Meanwhile, Nadir Hasan, a cousin of Nidal who has previously spoken out after the Fort Hood shooting, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The Fort Hood shooting remains one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. military installation, and the case continues to attract public and media attention as the execution date approaches. This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.