Trump cancels plan to livestream man’s execution following widespread condemnation
US President Donald Trump has canceled plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, a convicted mass murderer. While the execution will proceed by firing squad, the administration reversed the decision following widespread criticism comparing the move to practices in authoritarian regimes.
Why it matters
The decision highlights ongoing debates regarding the intersection of state-sanctioned violence, public transparency, and the ethical boundaries of the US justice system.
US president Donald Trump has shelved a widely condemned plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people at a military base at Fort Hood in Texas in 2009.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump argued that broadcasting such an execution “might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan” but said that “many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device”.
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” Trump added. “That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose.”
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