Hegseth Says Execution Will Be Public

Hegseth said the public would be able to watch the execution and stressed that people should understand the consequences of serious crimes.

He said Hasan would be executed by a firing squad made up of soldiers.

Hegseth also said he did not know or care about Hasan's final requests and said he expected to see him on December 3.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell previously said Hegseth recommended the execution and President Donald Trump approved it.

Hasan Convicted Over Fort Hood Shooting

Nidal Hasan, a former US Army psychiatrist from Virginia, admitted in court that he was responsible for the November 5, 2009, shooting at Fort Hood.

The attack took place in a crowded medical building where soldiers were preparing for deployment.

Hasan was convicted during a military court proceeding in 2013 and received a death sentence.

He said during the proceedings that he believed he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Execution Still Faces Legal Review

The planned execution may still face legal challenges.

Military executions require presidential approval, appellate review and a final determination that the execution can legally proceed.

Lawyer John Mills said Hasan's appellate process is not finished and that he could seek further review in federal court.

Mills said such legal action could prevent the execution from taking place on December 3.

Livestream Would Be Unprecedented

Legal experts said a livestreamed execution would be highly unusual in the United States.

Deborah Denno, a law professor who has studied US execution methods, said there has never been a livestreamed execution in the country.

She said livestreaming could create an unprecedented level of transparency about how executions are carried out.

However, questions remain about how the livestream would be distributed and whether online platforms would allow such content.

Public Executions Are Rare

According to Amnesty International data cited in the supplied report, thousands of executions were carried out around the world in 2025.

Only a small number were publicly carried out. The report said 11 public executions were known to have taken place in Iran and six in Afghanistan.

The United States generally allows limited witnesses at executions, with rules varying by state.

History of US Military Executions

The last US military execution took place in 1961, when an Army private was hanged after being convicted of raping an 11-year-old Austrian girl.

The last US military execution by firing squad took place in January 1945, when Army deserter Eddie Slovik was executed during World War Two.

If carried out, Hasan's execution would therefore be the first US military firing-squad execution in more than 80 years.

Trump and the Death Penalty

President Donald Trump has long supported the death penalty.

After returning to office, Trump overturned a federal execution moratorium implemented under former President Joe Biden and signed an executive order focused on restoring the federal death penalty.

The supplied report also notes that the US government carried out 13 federal executions during the final year of Trump's first presidency.

Key Points

  • Hegseth said the public will be able to watch Hasan's execution.
  • Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3.
  • The execution is planned at Fort Hood, Texas.
  • It would be the first US military execution in more than 60 years.
  • A livestreamed US execution would be unprecedented in the modern era.
  • Hasan's legal appeals may still affect the execution date.
  • The last US military firing-squad execution took place in 1945.
  • Questions remain over where and how any livestream would be shown.

Source: Statements by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon officials, legal experts and information provided in the supplied report.