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Trump Is Reportedly Having Second Thoughts About A Livestreamed Execution Because He Learned 1 Thing
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President Donald Trump is having second thoughts about the Pentagon’s plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, people familiar with his thinking told CBS News and CNN. While the president originally publicly supported the idea, he is now reportedly considering calling it off following extensive talks with his advisers. Trump privately said he was not aware Nidal Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down and now uses a wheelchair, which made the optics of a public execution less appealing to him, according to CNN. Separately, the Pentagon is also reconsidering its plan to broadcast the full execution and will likely cut the possible livestream before any shots are fired, in part, over concerns that the video could be exploited by terrorist groups, CNN reported. Hasan, scheduled to be executed by firing squad on Dec. 3, killed 13 service members in 2009 after he opened fire inside a medical building. A former Army psychiatrist, he represented himself at trial and told jurors he’d switched sides in the “war on Islam.” His execution will mark the first time the Army has carried out the death penalty since 1961. Trump was reportedly unaware of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plans last week to publicly announce the livestream, a move that drew swift bipartisan pushback from lawmakers who accused the administration of taking a dramatic step toward authoritarianism. “Hasan should face the death penalty, but making his execution public and streaming it? Beyond disgusting,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said last week. “Public executions are what oppressive dictatorships like Iran and Afghanistan do. It should not be happening in America.” Sen. Chris Murphy’s (D-Conn.) similarly expressed horror about the administration’s plan. “I mean, that’s disgusting. What, is he mimicking ISIS executions?” Murphy told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “I mean, I understand that in this country we have the death penalty, but public executions is medieval.” Trump told reporters over the weekend he would make the final decision about the livestream. “He was vicious. He was violent,” Trump said. “There are two thoughts: Don’t show it and show it. Because, 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 we’ll make a decision.” Vice President JD Vance also expressed doubt about the possibility of livestreaming Hasan’s execution, telling reporters: “I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen.” He then added, “If it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it.” By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
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