Trump Calls Off Livestreamed Execution

President Trump just overruled his defense chief about a livestreamed execution. Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday that the death of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan in December will not be publicly available as a livestream. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth had previously announced plans to stream the firing squad execution, but the idea quickly ran into bipartisan opposition, which some critics calling it barbaric and others fearing it might turn Hasan into a martyr. CBS News reports that one factor is that Trump learned belatedly that Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down during the attack.

"I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device," wrote Trump. "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed." Family members of Hasan's victims will be allowed to witness his death, Trump added.