Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

Key points

• President Trump approved the execution after a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• The execution is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas.
• It will be the first US military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since 1945.
• Hasan was convicted in 2013 for killing 13 and wounding 32 soldiers in the 2009 Fort Hood attack.
• The case underwent automatic appeals, with the Supreme Court denying review in 2025.
• Hasan is one of four inmates currently on the US military death row at Fort Leavenworth.

Background

The US military has not carried out an execution since 1961, when Private John Bennett was hanged. The last firing squad execution was in 1945 for Private Eddie Slovik. In 2025, Trump reinstated the federal death penalty via executive order, reversing a moratorium under the Biden administration. The military death penalty was deemed unconstitutional in 1983 but reinstated by an executive order in 1984.

How outlets are covering it

BBC and CNN emphasize the historical significance of the firing squad method and the 60-year gap since the last military execution. Fox News highlights Hasan's stated motives, including shouting 'Allahu Akbar' and targeting soldiers deploying to Afghanistan, and notes the automatic appeal process. The Guardian focuses on Hasan's background as a US-born Muslim of Palestinian descent and his interactions with al-Qaida propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki. All sources agree on the core facts but differ in emphasis: Fox News stresses the terrorist aspect, while The Guardian provides more context on Hasan's ideological connections.

Why it matters

This execution marks a significant shift in US military justice and capital punishment policy, reflecting the Trump administration's stance on the death penalty. It is the first military execution in over 60 years and the first by firing squad since World War II, raising questions about the future use of capital punishment in the US military and federal government.

What to watch

The execution is scheduled for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas. Hasan can still appeal the death sentence by filing a petition of habeas corpus, which could lead to a stay of execution. The case will be automatically appealed to the US Army Criminal Court of Appeals and then to the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.