JD Vance casts doubt on firing squad execution and says he will not watch it
BBC News 2026-10-09 18:40:05
Context: US Vice-President JD Vance has expressed doubt about the Pentagon's plan to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the former US Army major who killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009. The execution, which would be the first military execution by firing squad in over 60 years, has sparked criticism from both parties and human rights organizations. The plan to livestream the execution has been met with opposition, with some warning that it could cultivate an appetite for executions as a form of entertainment.
Key Facts
- Nidal Hasan, a former US Army major, fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, injuring another 32.
- The Pentagon plans to execute Hasan by firing squad, the first military execution by firing squad since the end of World War Two.
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the execution would be livestreamed for the public, sparking criticism from both parties and human rights organizations.
- JD Vance stated that he would not watch the livestreamed execution, saying "I'm not going to be watching it" if it happens as planned.