President Donald Trump said Oct. 10 that he would decide whether the military execution of Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed. That puts the final decision on public access in the president’s hands, after Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth announced a public broadcast. The firing-squad execution is scheduled for Dec. 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, where Hasan carried out the mass shooting.
Who Controls the Broadcast
“By showing it, maybe other people won't be doing what he did, so I'll make a decision ultimately,” Trump said outside the White House. He added: “I know what the military would like to do, but we'll make a decision.” Trump said there were “two thoughts: Show it and don't show it.”
Hegseth announced on Oct. 8 that he would make the execution’s livestream public. Trump’s remarks left the broadcast decision unresolved. The military execution remains scheduled for Dec. 3. Officials’ question is whether the public will see it live.
Hasan was convicted in 2009 of killing 13 people and injuring more than 31 others at Fort Hood. Trump called Hasan “a vicious killer” who “killed 13 people in cold blood” and “wounded over 20.” He said some of those people “will never have their lives back in a true sense.”
The day before, Trump said Hasan “deserves it.” The account didn’t make clear whether Trump meant the execution or a livestream of it. On Oct. 10, he repeated that the decision about showing the execution remained his to make.
Backlash and Official Responses
Hegseth’s announcement drew criticism from Democrats and Republicans, who called it the behavior of dictators and terrorist organizations. They objected after the Pentagon chief announced a public livestream, while Trump said he would decide whether the plan went ahead.
Vice President JD Vance said Oct. 9 that he wouldn't watch the execution if it were livestreamed. He also said he didn't “know that that's actually going to happen.” Vance is a Catholic. On Oct. 10, Pope Leo XIV spoke out against the death penalty following the controversial announcement.
The officials’ dispute concerns how the scheduled military execution will be presented to the public. It’s planned at Fort Hood, the same base where Hasan carried out the mass shooting. Hegseth announced a livestream; Trump reserved the final decision; and Vance said he wasn't sure the broadcast would take place.
Broadcast Authority
CNBC asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr whether he would allow the livestream to be broadcast. Carr said he would “defer to” Hegseth. He said: “My understanding is it's not on broadcast TV, so I don't think there's a role for the FCC there one way or the other.”
Carr’s response put the decision outside the FCC’s role as he understood it, while Trump said he would make the ultimate call and Hegseth had announced the livestream. The account identifies no final decision on whether the broadcast will occur. The execution remains scheduled for Dec. 3 at Fort Hood.