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US President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the execution of former US Army major Nidal Hasan, following widespread criticism of the proposal from lawmakers, religious leaders and the public.
The execution, scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood military base in Texas, will proceed by firing squad but will not be broadcast live, Trump said in a social media post on Thursday.
The plan was announced earlier this month by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the execution would be made public.
However, the proposal triggered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, with concerns that broadcasting the killing could fuel radicalisation and raise serious ethical questions.
Trump initially suggested that livestreaming the execution might deter terrorism by showing how the United States deals with perpetrators of such attacks.
However, he acknowledged that many people would prefer not to watch an execution.
Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and attempting to murder 32 others in a shooting at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009.
The victims were unarmed US soldiers at the military base.
Trump confirmed that the execution would take place as scheduled, although potential legal challenges could affect the timeline.
Families of the victims will be allowed to witness the execution in person if they choose.
The Pentagon said Hegseth supported Trump’s decision and that the two officials remained aligned despite the reversal.
The controversy has renewed debate in the United States over capital punishment and the ethics of publicly broadcasting executions.
