Fort Hood survivors praise Trump for scrapping Hasan execution livestream: ‘We’re not barbaric’
Fort Hood survivors welcome President’s decision to keep Nidal Hasan’s execution off‑screen
The United States is set to carry out the death sentence of former U.S. Army officer Nidal Hasan on December 3, 2026, by firing squad. In a surprise reversal, President Donald Trump announced that the execution would not be livestreamed to the public, a change that has been welcomed by the 2009 Fort Hood massacre survivors.
Hasan’s execution had been scheduled for a live broadcast, an order originally issued by the Department of Defense secretary. Trump’s statement, posted on Truth Social, said that while families of the victims would still have the opportunity to witness the execution in person, the event would not be streamed. “He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” Trump wrote. “The families deserve to witness JUSTICE.”
Survivors applaud the move
Alonzo Lunsford, who was shot seven times during the shooting that killed 13 people and wounded 32, said the President’s decision was “a positive move.” “It proves that we are a better people, a better nation, and that we’re not barbaric,” Lunsford told Fox News Digital. He added that he supports Hasan’s death sentence and the method of execution but rejects making it a public spectacle.
“I don’t want this to be a pay‑per‑view event, a WWE wrestling match or a boxing match,” Lunsford said. “We don’t want terrorist groups to use footage of this as a recruitment tool.”
He also cautioned that the execution’s broadcast could serve as propaganda for groups such as ISIS or al‑Qaeda, encouraging new recruits. “You don’t want that to be used as a tool for ISIS or al‑Qaeda to recruit and say, ‘Hey, this is what happens to you if you do this against the infidel,’” Lunsford said.
Mental‑health concerns cited
Julia Wilson, a civilian employee who was nine months pregnant when the attack unfolded on her due date, echoed Lunsford’s concerns. “I’m worried about other people’s mental health,” Wilson said. “Seeing something like that affects your mental health, whether they deserve it or not.”
Wilson also warned that a livestream would be permanently available online, potentially exposing children to graphic footage. “Once it’s on out there, it’s out there,” she said.
Background on the decision
The Department of Defense had previously announced that Hasan’s execution would be streamed, a decision that sparked debate over the potential for public deterrence versus the risk of glorifying violence. Trump’s reversal came after warnings from survivors and mental‑health experts about the psychological impact of live executions on the public.
Army’s handling of Hasan questioned
Lunsford criticized the Army’s transfer of Hasan from Walter Reed Hospital to Fort Hood, citing a “ticking time bomb report” that highlighted Hasan’s mental‑health issues. “We knew this guy had issues,” Lunsford said. “They just passed the buck and moved him from Walter Reed to Fort Hood.”
He added that if Hasan had deployed overseas, the consequences could have been far more severe. “Imagine how many American lives would have been lost then.”
A chance for closure
While the execution will not be televised, Lunsford noted that families of the victims may attend in person, if they choose. “They deserve to witness JUSTICE,” Trump wrote, and Lunsford said the in‑person viewing could help the families close a painful chapter.
“I’m a survivor,” Lunsford said, reflecting on the daily reminders he faces after the attack. “It’s a constant reminder that we carry this trauma with us.”
Looking ahead
The firing squad execution remains scheduled for December 3, 2026. The decision to forgo a public broadcast marks the first time an American execution has been kept off‑screen for security, mental‑health, and ethical reasons, according to officials and survivors alike.
