JD Vance Questions Pentagon Plan to Livestream Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution

US Vice President JD Vance expressed uncertainty Friday over the Pentagon’s controversial plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.

The execution, scheduled for December 3, has sparked widespread criticism from lawmakers, religious leaders, human rights organizations and former national security officials.

“I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen,” Vance told reporters in Cincinnati. He added that he would not watch the broadcast if it proceeded.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the proposed public execution, arguing that it would demonstrate serious consequences for violent crimes. However, critics warn that broadcasting the event could provide extremist organizations with propaganda and recruitment material.

President Donald Trump supported Hasan receiving the death penalty by firing squad, describing him as “a maniac,” but has not publicly endorsed livestreaming the execution.

Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned the proposal as a “barbaric promotion of a culture of death” and urged officials to reconsider.

Former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent warned that broadcasting Hasan’s death could help terrorist groups radicalize new recruits.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis also opposed the livestream despite supporting Hasan’s execution, calling the proposal “beyond disgusting.”

Democratic Senator Jack Reed similarly argued that the broadcast would damage American interests while giving extremists additional publicity.

The United Nations human rights office criticized the plan, warning that public executions constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and violate international prohibitions against torture.

Hasan, now 56, was convicted in 2013 for the Fort Hood attack, which also wounded numerous people. He claimed the shooting was intended to oppose US military operations in Muslim countries.

If carried out, Hasan’s execution would mark the first US military execution since 1961 and the first military execution by firing squad since 1945.

Death penalty experts also believe a livestream would represent the first known broadcast of a lawful execution.

The Pentagon has not disclosed whether victims’ families will attend or how the firing squad will operate.

The controversy comes ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, intensifying debate over capital punishment, military justice and the ethical implications of publicly broadcasting executions.