Hegseth's livestreamed firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan is a shameful spectacle of cruelty, not a transparency measure
Source: Austin Sarat. "Why Pete Hegseth chose the Fort Hood shooter for his grotesque publicity stunt.." October 9, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that Hegseth's plan to broadcast the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan isn't about transparency or teaching the public a lesson. It's a cruel show, like the ones America gave up long ago because they were barbaric and often racist, and it will make the country look like it has lost its decency.
Conclusion
Livestreaming Nidal Hasan's firing-squad execution is a shameful, cruel publicity stunt that will bring no honor to the U.S. military or the country and will only confirm the view that America has abandoned decency.
Premises
- Public and livestreamed executions are unprecedented in the modern U.S. and are associated with extremist groups like the Islamic State and countries like Iran, and Amnesty International says public executions serve no legitimate purpose and only increase the cruelty and degradation of the punishment.
- Hegseth's stated rationale (letting the public see the 'serious consequences' of the crime) is not about transparency or public understanding, because the plan fits the administration's pattern of cruelty as spectacle, such as masked ICE agents on the streets and videos of boat strikes off Venezuela.
- The U.S. historically abandoned public executions because their supposed educative purpose degenerated into a circus-like atmosphere, often tainted by racism and lynching (e.g., Rainey Bethea in 1936), and came to seem uncivilized.
- Watching an execution by video is voyeuristic, and a government-produced video of a real killing meant to appeal to viewers' sadistic impulses is equivalent to a snuff film.
- Unlike lethal injection, which hides its brutality behind a medical facade, the firing squad's devastating physical brutality is exactly what Hegseth wants the public to see; even VP Vance says he will not watch.
- Hasan's Muslim background likely explains why Hegseth chose him to be the first subject of such a public punishment, echoing past racist public spectacles.
Assumptions
- The administration's true motive is cruelty or political showmanship rather than the stated educational or deterrent purpose.
- Public display of state killing is inherently degrading, regardless of the guilt of the condemned.
- The historical decline of public executions reflects moral progress that should not be reversed.
- Practices common to Iran or the Islamic State are thereby discredited as models for the U.S.
- Hasan's religion is a motivating factor in Hegseth's choice, even without direct evidence.
- Livestreaming an execution is morally equivalent to, or relevantly similar to, a snuff film.