JD Vance casts doubt on firing squad execution and says he will not watch it

9 October 2026, 19: 24 BST.

Key points

• Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, injuring another 32.
• US Vice-President JD Vance has cast doubt on the Pentagon's intends to livestream a firing squad execution of the Fort Hood shooter.
• The Pentagon confirmed earlier this week it would execute Hasan by firing squad, the first of its kind since the end of World War Two.
• The BBC has asked the White House whether Trump backed the aims to livestream the execution.
• Talking with reporters, Vance expressed doubt that it would happen as planned, saying: "I don't know that that's actually going to happen".

He continued, that "if it's through live stream, I'm not going to be watching it". Vance described the actions by former US Army major Nidal Hasan as "the worst terrorist attack on American soil outside of 9/11".

Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, injuring another 32. His execution by firing squad would be the first military execution in more than 60 years.

For context, the Pentagon confirmed earlier this week it would execute Hasan by firing squad, the first of its kind since the end of World War Two. A Pentagon spokesperson remarked on Monday that US President Donald Trump had approved defence secretary Pete Hegseth's recommendation.

Notably, the BBC has asked the White House whether Trump backed the aims to livestream the execution.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Vance remarked: "I see these announcements. I don't know that that's actually going to happen."

According to The vice-president, hasan was meant to treat soldiers for mental illness and other difficulties and "took them at their most vulnerable and gunned down these people where they lived".

In practice, the announcement that the Pentagon would live stream the execution was met with pushback from both political parties.

For now, JD Vance casts doubt on firing squad execution and says he will remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.