Trump Backs Down Under Pressure / Live Execution by Firing Squad Canceled

Following widespread opposition and recent polls, Trump overturned the Pentagon's decision to broadcast the execution of Nidal Hasan live on television.

Trump's decision, which was made following the pressure of American public opinion, cancels the announcement that was published by the Pentagon last week.

Trump claimed on Thursday local time on his social network Truth Social: I think broadcasting the execution live, so that everyone could see it, maybe could have been a powerful deterrent; So that the world can see how America deals with terrorists and evil elements. But many very good and well-meaning people would prefer not to watch his death via live stream or any other visual means.

The President of the United States said about Nidal Hassan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring dozens of others in a shooting in 2009: "He will be executed by firing squad as planned, but this event will not be broadcast live."

At the same time, Trump added that the first-class families of the victims can be personally present at the place of execution and watch it.

CNN reported that the US president and his advisers were considering canceling the plan to broadcast the execution live. In private conversations, Trump mentioned that he did not know that Nidal Hassan was paralyzed from the waist down.

According to sources familiar with these conversations, the president was unaware that "Pete Hegst" (Minister of Defense) had announced last week that the government plans to provide the public with the opportunity to watch the execution, and at first he did not know how to react to this issue.

However, Trump strongly supported the decision to execute Hasan by firing squad and has repeatedly defended it in public, multiple officials told CNN.

The live broadcast of the execution was immediately met with opposition from both parties (Republican and Democrat) and caught many officials in the Pentagon and the military by surprise.

Public opposition to this idea was also very strong; According to a joint ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos poll released Thursday, 80 percent of American adults — including 64 percent of Republicans — said the execution should not be broadcast live.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegst had initially proposed that Hassan's death sentence be executed by firing squad, and Trump had agreed to it.

The execution, scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood, is the first execution of a soldier by the United States military since World War II, and the first time in 65 years that a member of the armed forces has been executed.