Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has defended the Pentagon's plan to publicly execute Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009. Mullin stated on CBS News' Face the Nation that President Trump's objective is to 'restore American values.'
Mullin asserted that the decision to potentially livestream Hasan's execution aligns with Trump's leadership style. "He leads this country with a very, very direct, forward, straight hand and he's restoring American values," Mullin said. He also countered concerns that a public execution could turn Hasan into a martyr or inspire further radicalization, stating, "No one has to watch it if they don't choose to" and "I don't see an elevated risk."
"I think people need to understand, if you attack America, we will come after you and we will make sure that the punishment fits the crime," Mullin added, expressing "zero sympathy" for Hasan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had announced that Hasan, who is scheduled for execution by firing squad on December 3, would be put to death in a live broadcast. Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 after killing 13 people and wounding 20 others at Fort Hood in November 2009. He had targeted soldiers deploying to Afghanistan, stating he was targeting those participating in an "illegal war."
President Trump initially supported the idea of a public execution, remarking that Hasan "deserves it." However, on Saturday, he stated he had not made a final decision on the livestream aspect, weighing whether publicizing the execution might deter future similar acts. "Cause you know, by showing it, maybe other people won’t be doing what he did. So I’ll make a decision ultimately," Trump said.
Hegseth's proposal for a public execution, which he likened to tactics used by the U.S. Army in World War II, drew widespread criticism. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, and Kevin Cramer, along with the UN human rights office and Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff, have voiced strong opposition. Critics argued that a livestreamed execution is inhumane, could grant Hasan unwanted notoriety, and is reminiscent of practices in authoritarian regimes.
