For the first time in decades, the military’s firing squad will carry out an execution on December 3 at 1 PM at Fort Hood. Hegseth, who has received President Donald Trump’s approval, said the timing was deliberate.
"We're going to do it on a Thursday... at one o'clock, which is when he did it, and it's going to be soldiers with rifles executing the firing squad" — because "people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things."
Trump backed the decision on Friday: "Death penalty through firing squad, and he deserves it."
The announcement became a hot topic of conversation among members of the chattering class, and reactions have been mixed.
Podcaster and Washington Examiner contributor Brad Polumbo said he is “philosophically opposed to the death penalty” but said he’s “not exactly sure what’s so bad about doing it via firing squad or in public view.”
I get the objection to it being a spectacle... but also, if we're, as a society, going to literally kill someone, why shouldn't we be forced to observe what we are doing rather than look away and have it handled behind closed doors?
I philosophically oppose the death penalty. But, given that it exists, and if we're going to do it, I'm not exactly sure what's so bad about doing it via firing squad or in public view. I get the objection to it being a spectacle... but also, if we're, as a society, going to literally kill someone, why shouldn't we be forced to observe what we are doing rather than look away and have it handled behind closed doors? I dunno, I'm still thinking through this.
— Brad Polumbo (@brad_polumbo) October 9, 2026
Reporter Lara Logan expressed support for the idea, asking, “why should we worry about upsetting people who already want us dead?”
This is one of the most epic interviews I have seen, particularly Hegseth’s comment when Posobiec asks him about any last requests from Islamic terrorist & murderer Nidal Hasan. Listen to his answer.
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) October 9, 2026
And to all those claiming that livestreaming Hasan’s execution by firing squad… https://t.co/edGlZAhyg8
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) wrote, “There is no doubt that Nidal Hasan is a murderer who took the lives of 13 people and injured dozens.”
But a public execution? Here in the United States? It’s the kind of thing Iran and the Taliban do. Is this who we want to be associated with? Pete Hegseth’s campaign of “maximum lethality” and his comments about “killing people” and now his desire to publicly execute a prisoner indicate to me that his expiration date in this job has long passed. He should be removed immediately. And this administration needs to reevaluate its priorities.
Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense would publicly execute Nidal Hasan and live stream the execution. There is no doubt that Nidal Hasan is a murderer who took the lives of 13 people and injured dozens. He should face justice for that. But a public execution?…
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) October 9, 2026
Republican Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-5) wrote, “Excellent. Public execution is what this terrorist deserves. We will be watching.”
Excellent. Public execution is what this terrorist deserves.
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) October 9, 2026
We will be watching. https://t.co/OkABbNKrpx
Retro Coast asked whether anyone “considered the PR consequences of livestreaming the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan?”
He is today an elderly man with graying hair. A wheelchair-bound parapalegic.
Rolling an elderly man in a wheelchair out to be executed by firing squad is NOT the PR win that Hegseth thinks it is.
It won't be like a dramatic TV show. It will be tawdry and ugly.
It will probably backfire.
Has anyone considered the PR consequences of livestreaming the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan?
— Retro Coast (@RetroCoast) October 9, 2026
He is today an elderly man with graying hair. A wheelchair-bound parapalegic.
Rolling an elderly man in a wheelchair out to be executed by firing squad is NOT the PR win that Hegseth…
Hegseth referred to Hasan’s actions as “a radical Islamist attack in uniform inside the ranks” and that he linked “the mentality we had in World War II, which was win, which was understand when the enemy attacks you, you need to stand your ground.”
Editor's Note: Do you enjoy Townhall's conservative reporting exposing the radical left and woke media? Support our work so we can keep bringing you the truth.
Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the Conversation
VIP members get the ability to comment on articles.