Key facts
- Donald Trump canceled Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan.
- Hegseth's allies, including pastor Douglas Wilson, support public executions.
- Wilson cited biblical authorization for public executions.
- Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 32 at Fort Hood in 2009.
- Hasan was sentenced to death in August 2013 and is scheduled for execution on December 3.
- Some religious leaders, including Pope Leo and Archbishop Timothy Broglio, condemned Hegseth's plan.
Donald Trump announced Thursday that Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan has been canceled. Hegseth had proposed making the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, scheduled for December 3, a public event. Hasan, a former army major, killed 13 people and wounded 32 at Fort Hood in 2009 before being sentenced to death in August 2013.
Despite the cancellation, some religious figures who have supported Hegseth’s career, including pastor Douglas Wilson, welcomed the initial announcement. Wilson, a proponent of capital punishment, stated a preference for public executions over private ones, citing biblical precedent, though he acknowledged the potential for ghoulish behavior.
However, other religious leaders, such as Pope Leo and Archbishop Timothy Broglio, have condemned Hegseth’s proposal. Hegseth is affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), whose pastors have historically advocated for the death penalty for various offenses. Podcaster Joshua Haymes, also linked to Hegseth's former church, has similarly called for public executions and made controversial remarks about crime statistics.