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US plans livestream of execution by firing squad
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The United States plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the Fort Hood massacre, according to anonymous Defense Department officials who spoke to the BBC and the Associated Press. Hasan is scheduled to die by firing squad on December 3 at 2 p.m. ET. The confirmation, issued this week, marks a rare step toward publicly broadcasting a capital punishment in the United States. Officials did not immediately specify how the feed would be distributed or which outlets would carry it.
Hasan, who served as an Army psychiatrist, opened fire at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in 2009, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 others. He was convicted of 13 counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder and sentenced to death by a military court. His case moved through years of military appeals before reaching this stage.
The condemned man will be executed by firing squad, a method still permitted under military law but seldom used in modern practice. The date and time β December 3 at 2 p.m. ET β were announced alongside the decision to make the proceedings publicly viewable. Anonymous Defense Department officials relayed the plan to both the BBC and the Associated Press.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in an interview with Real America's Voice that the execution would be open to public viewing. "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public, because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things," Hegseth said. His remarks framed the livestream as a deterrent meant to underscore accountability for mass violence committed against service members.
Whether major platforms will carry the feed remains unanswered. The Verge contacted YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Meta, Rumble, and Kick to ask whether they plan to allow the livestream to air, and none responded before publication. Technology platforms have previously restricted violent live content, even when it involves official government proceedings, leaving their stance on this broadcast uncertain.
The plan is expected to renew debate over press freedom, the wishes of victims' families, and the state's role in broadcasting punishment. Supporters argue that transparency serves the public interest, while critics may raise concerns about dignity and platform safety. The dispute also comes as the Defense Department seeks to publicize the consequences of attacks on military personnel.
For now, the December 3 execution stands as scheduled, with the distribution mechanism still to be determined as officials and platforms weigh their positions in the coming days.
