Trump cancels livestream of Fort Hood shooter's execution

US President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former US army psychiatrist who killed 13 unarmed soldiers at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in 2009. Hasan will still be put to death by firing squad as scheduled, but the event will not be broadcast.

What changed

Trump had earlier said he approved of showing the execution online. Vice-President JD Vance cast doubt on whether it would go ahead and said he would not watch it himself. As criticism of the public display grew, Trump said on Thursday that many good and well-meaning people would rather not watch Hasan die.

The president said streaming the execution could have served as a strong deterrent by showing the world how America deals with terrorists. He insisted that Hasan would die on schedule, but without a stream.

Background

In the 2009 attack, Hasan killed 13 soldiers and wounded another 32. His execution will be the first military execution in the United States in more than 60 years.

Trump added that the victims' families will be able to watch the execution in person. In his words, they deserve to witness justice.