Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution For Fort Hood Soldier Nidal Hasan

President Donald Trump has signed off on a firing squad to execute Nidal Hasan. This order comes from the Pentagon after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended it and President Trump approved it. Sean Parnell, a spokesman for the Pentagon, made this announcement on X earlier Monday. He wrote that judgment day for Hasan has finally arrived. The Army secretary will pick the specific time and location for the event.

Hasan was convicted in 2009 for killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas. He is a US citizen of Palestinian descent. If this proceeds as planned, he becomes the first US soldier executed by the military in over six decades. The last known execution by a firing squad occurred in November 1945. That one used musketry. A hanging took place in 1961. Gas asphyxiation and electrocution are also options that Trump added to the list of acceptable methods back in April.

The tragedy happened weeks before Hasan was set to deploy to Afghanistan. During his court-martial, he claimed he fired a handgun inside the medical facility to stop soldiers from going abroad and killing fellow Muslims. He made almost no attempt to defend himself against the bullets. A military jury found him guilty of 45 counts including premeditated murder and attempted murder in August 2013. Twelve active-duty servicemen lost their lives along with a retired veteran. Thirty-two others were wounded at the scene. Police arrested him immediately where he was shot, leaving him partially paralyzed.

Christa Pike has publicly asked for a firing squad rather than lethal injection for this case. She highlighted what she sees as double standards regarding failed executions. The Trump administration moved quickly to expand execution methods available under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This rare step requires direct presidential approval.