Army brass reportedly blindsided by Hegseth's plan to stream Nidal Hasan's execution

Pete Hegseth's plan to put Nidal Hasan's execution online reportedly took much of the military by surprise. Some officials now wonder how the Army can make it work.

CNN reports that many Pentagon and Army leaders learned of the livestream only when the defense secretary announced it this week.

How the decision was made

Hegseth revealed the plan in an interview on the USS Abraham Lincoln. He said Americans should get to see what follows from the Fort Hood attack.

CNN says the defense secretary made the call with Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell and Adam Telle, who is serving as Army secretary. The Pentagon later confirmed it in public.

Open questions

Officials are reportedly working out the details. One concern is keeping the firing squad members anonymous.

A unit has already been picked for the execution, CNN says. Leaders are weighing how the task could affect the mental health of those soldiers.

It is also unclear whether a soldier may decline to take part. Nobody has said where the stream will air.

Pushback from all sides

Troops, veterans and members of Congress from both parties have criticized the plan.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Friday that he was unsure the broadcast would go forward. He said he would not tune in.

President Donald Trump backed the firing squad sentence and said Hasan deserves to die. He added that he played no role in the livestream decision.

Hasan was convicted of murdering 13 people and wounding 32 more at Fort Hood in 2009. One survivor has said he plans to watch but asked people not to treat it as a party. The execution is set for Dec. 3 in Texas.