Trump Rejects Immediate Decision on Pentagon Livestream of Execution

President Trump said he would ultimately decide whether the United States should livestream the execution of Hassan, despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier announcement that the event would be made public.

“Although making the execution available for all to see on streaming may have been a powerful deterrent for the world to witness how the United States deals with terrorists and scum like Hassan, many very good and well-meaning people would not want to watch his death via streaming or other video equipment,” Trump said.

J.D. Vance Says He Would Not Watch the Livestream

Among the “people of goodwill” who influenced Trump’s decision was Vice President J.D. Vance. On Friday, Vance told reporters that if a livestream took place, “I’m not going to watch it.”

Beyond the potential psychological harm of exposing the public to an execution, the Pentagon does not appear to have considered several other challenges associated with livestreaming the event, CNN reports.

Social Media Rules and Soldier Identification Risks

It was unclear whether the execution could be broadcast anywhere other than the Pentagon’s website because social media platforms and broadcast channels have rules prohibiting content that depicts graphic violence.

CNN also warned that a livestream could create identification risks for soldiers ordered to participate in the firing squad.

How the Pentagon Livestream Proposal Began

Hegseth first announced the plan while speaking with right-wing podcaster Jack Posobiec aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Hegseth had just welcomed soldiers home after they spent months in the Middle East when he told Posobiec:

“We’re going to make this film available to people and we’re going to make it public because people need to understand that there are serious consequences to this type of event.”

As of Tuesday, the Pentagon continued to support the secretary, confirming that livestream details would be shared soon and that the event would proceed as Hegseth had announced.

Trump Says the Final Decision Is His

However, Trump stressed in the interview that Hegseth did not have the authority to decide whether the execution would be livestreamed in the manner described during the podcast.

“Ultimately, I will make the decision. I understand what the military wants to do, but we will make the decision,” Trump said Saturday.