Hillary Clinton condemns planned livestream of Fort Hood shooter’s execution
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the Pentagon’s decision to livestream the execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan on Oct. 9, 2026, describing the plan as “a barbaric idea” that undermines the country’s dignity.
Clinton posted a screenshot of a New York Times article on X, emphasizing that the execution – scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, by firing squad – would be broadcast live to the public. She urged “push back on this,” adding that such a display would be beneath the nation’s dignity.
The execution plan was announced by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who said President Donald Trump had approved Hasan’s death by firing squad. Parnell noted that live‑streaming an execution has little precedent in the United States and is more commonly associated with extremist groups.
Hasan, a former Army major who killed 13 soldiers and wounded 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood attack, was found guilty on all charges in August 2013 and sentenced to death. The Department of War confirmed that the Dec. 3 execution would be the first U.S. military killing by firing squad since World War II and the first public execution in the country since 1936.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, also condemned the livestream, calling it “a barbaric promotion of a culture of death” that would further undermine the nation’s moral fabric. He cited biblical teachings urging against retaliation and prayed for the nation to choose life.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the decision, saying public access is needed so “people understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.” In an interview aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Hegseth reaffirmed that the execution would be made public and that the firing squad would be used.
The controversy revives a long‑standing debate over the propriety of broadcasting state‑approved executions, with critics warning it could desensitize viewers and glorify violence, while supporters argue transparency serves as a deterrent.
The execution is set for Dec. 3, and legal challenges or further public commentary are expected in the weeks leading up to the date.
