Trump Humiliates Hegseth in Embarrassing Execution Retreat
Eric Lee / REUTERSDonald Trump has rebuked Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s macabre attempt to livestream a public execution amid a global backlash against the proposed spectacle. The president announced Thursday that former Army Major Nidal Hasan, who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting that killed 13 people, would still face execution by firing squad as scheduled, but that the event would
Donald Trump has rebuked Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s macabre attempt to livestream a public execution amid a global backlash against the proposed spectacle.
The president announced Thursday that former Army Major Nidal Hasan, who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting that killed 13 people, would still face execution by firing squad as scheduled, but that the event would not be streamed for the world to watch.
“I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device,” Trump wrote in a lengthy social media post.
“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed. That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose. They deserve to witness JUSTICE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The reversal marks a humiliation for Hegseth, who described the attack as a radical Islamist assault from within the military’s ranks and insisted the public should watch the execution to understand that such crimes carry serious consequences.
But the plan immediately sparked a global backlash, religious condemnation from the Catholic Church, and bipartisan opposition in Congress.
Vice President JD Vance also cast doubt on the plan last week, telling reporters that if it was livestreamed, “I’m not going to be watching it.”
Trump, however, initially refused to rule out live-streaming the event.
“There are two thoughts: don’t show it and show it,” he told reporters on Saturday.
“You know, by showing it, maybe other people won’t be doing what he did. So I’ll make a decision ultimately. I know what the military would like to do, but I’ll make a decision.
This is a developing story and will be updated...
