US Plans First Public Execution in 90 Years, Sparking Global Outrage

Key points

• The Pentagon confirmed the execution of Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed on December 3 at 1 p.m. local time at Fort Hood, Texas.
• Hasan, now 56 and confined to a wheelchair, was convicted in 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder for the 2009 attack that killed 13 and injured 32.
• This will be the first firing squad execution by the US military since World War II and the first public execution in the US since the hanging of Rainey Bethea in 1936.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the livestream as a deterrent, while President Trump approved the firing squad method but did not confirm if he would watch the broadcast.
• Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, stated he would not watch the livestream and cast doubt on whether it will actually take place.
• The announcement drew bipartisan criticism, with Republicans and Democrats calling the plan 'barbaric,' 'medieval,' and comparable to dictatorships.

Background

The US has not conducted a public execution since 1936, when Rainey Bethea was hanged in Kentucky before a crowd of 20,000. A subsequent public hanging occurred in Missouri in 1937. Since then, US executions have been conducted privately. The current controversy arises in the context of renewed scrutiny of capital punishment following the botched lethal injection of Christa Pike in Tennessee in late September 2026. Additionally, the US is currently engaged in a conflict with Iran, a country that frequently conducts public executions, which has intensified diplomatic tensions and criticism of the US plan.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and CNN emphasize the historical significance of the event, noting it is the first public execution in the US in 90 years and the first military firing squad since WWII. They highlight the bipartisan condemnation, with Republicans like Sen. Thom Tillis and Democrats like Sen. Chris Murphy calling the plan 'disgusting' and 'medieval.' The Guardian focuses on the international reaction, noting that the UN and foreign leaders, including UK officials, have condemned the plan as 'barbaric' and comparable to dictatorships. Crux highlights the Catholic perspective, noting that Pope Leo has declared the death penalty 'inadmissible' and that Archbishop Paul Coakley of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops called the plan a 'barbaric promotion of a culture of death.' CNN also notes concerns from national security experts that the livestream could be used as propaganda by terrorist groups. All sources agree that the plan is unprecedented and controversial, but they differ in emphasis: CBS and CNN focus on the domestic political and historical aspects, The Guardian on the international and human rights implications, and Crux on the religious and moral objections.

Why it matters

The decision to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan represents a significant departure from US legal and historical norms, potentially setting a precedent for public executions. It has sparked a national debate on the morality and efficacy of capital punishment, with critics arguing that it undermines the dignity of the justice system and could be exploited by terrorist groups for propaganda. The move has also drawn international condemnation, potentially damaging US diplomatic relations and its standing as a leader in human rights. The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions within the US over the use of the death penalty and the methods by which it is carried out, particularly in the wake of recent botched executions.

What to watch

The execution is scheduled for December 3, 2026. It remains unclear whether the livestream will actually take place, as Vice President JD Vance has expressed doubt. Legal challenges are possible, with experts noting that Hasan could seek to block the public display of his death in court. The Pentagon has stated it will provide more logistical details as they become available. The decision may also influence future debates on capital punishment methods in the US, particularly as states explore alternatives to lethal injection.