In the US, the live broadcast of the execution of a gunman convicted of killing 13 people has been canceled
US Refuses Live Broadcast of Execution of Shooter Convicted of Killing 13 People
US President Donald Trump has abandoned his intention to broadcast live the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former military psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at the Fort Hood base in Texas in 2009. Meanwhile, the execution by firing squad, scheduled for December 3, remains in effect.
Earlier, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the execution would be shown live. However, the idea drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. According to CNN, these plans also caught some Pentagon and Army officials off guard.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that he initially considered a live broadcast of the execution a potential deterrent for others. But, according to him, many people would not want to watch a person die.
"I think broadcasting the execution could have been a strong deterrent, allowing the whole world to see how America deals with terrorists and scumbags like Hasan. But many good and decent people would prefer not to watch his death — neither on a broadcast nor through any other visual means," the president wrote.
At the same time, Trump emphasized that the execution will take place as scheduled — by firing squad. Relatives of the victims will be able to attend in person if they wish. According to the president, they deserve to see justice served.
According to a poll by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos published on Thursday, 80% of US adults opposed the live broadcast of the execution, including 64% of Republican Party supporters.
Hasan opened fire at the Fort Hood base in November 2009. At that time, 13 people were killed and another 32 were injured. In 2013, a military court sentenced him to death.
If the sentence is carried out, it will be the first execution of a US service member by firing squad since World War II. The last such case occurred in 1945 in France, when Private Eddie Slovik was executed for desertion. The last execution of a US service member by another method took place in 1961.