Vance expresses doubts about Pentagon plan to livestream Fort Hood shooter's execution
Vice-President J.D. Vance has expressed skepticism regarding the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. While President Trump has endorsed the use of a firing squad for the execution, the administration faces internal and religious pushback regarding the public nature of the event.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the intersection of capital punishment policy, military justice, and the ethical implications of publicizing state-sanctioned executions in the modern era.
Vice-President J.D. Vance cast doubt on Friday (October 20, 2026) on whether the Pentagon will livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan in December but told reporters that if it is livestreamed, “I'm not going to be watching it.”
The Republican V-P said, “I don't know that that's actually going to happen,” when asked about the plans that the Pentagon confirmed on Thursday (October 8, 2026). But Mr. Vance then tried to set aside the controversy over the plans for a public execution and said Hasan's crimes should not be forgotten.
Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in a shooting spree at the military base in 2009.
“So whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don't forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people,” Mr. Vance said.
Also covering this story
19 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
'Barbaric' US execution livestream could be watched in NZ, expert warns
Fort Hood attacker's execution by firing squad will be livestreamed, Pentagon says
The Failings of Public Execution
US plans to livestream Fort Hood shooter’s death; first public execution in 90 years
Fort Hood shooter's execution by firing squad will be livestreamed, Pentagon says - BBC
US to livestream Army firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter, Pentagon says
Pentagon to livestream Fort Hood shooter execution
Firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed, Pentagon says
US To Livestream Execution Of Fort Hood Shooter, 1st Time In 65 Years
US to livestream execution of former Army major by firing squad
Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed
US to livestream firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter
US military firing squad execution to be livestreamed
Hegseth says firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be ‘public’
US to livestream execution of Texas gunman who killed 13
US plans livestream of execution by firing squad
US military to livestream firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter
Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed - AP News
Outrage over US plan to livestream military execution
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in