President Trump said in a Thursday Truth Social post the execution of the convicted Fort Hood shooter by firing squad will not be live-streamed.
The big picture: The president's post walks back an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pitched last week, setting off an avalanche of bipartisan condemnation.
Driving the news: "He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed," Trump's post read.
- He added, "That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose."
- Trump noted that he thinks "streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die."
- That seemingly included Vice President JD Vance who said he wouldn't watch the execution.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned footage of the execution could become a "recruiting tool for future terrorists."
Catch up quick: The Pentagon previously confirmed that the December execution would be streamed after Hegseth said in an interview with Real America's Voice that it would be made "public."
- But the plan received swift pushback from Republicans and Democrats in Congress alike, as well as from clergy and survivors of the horrific 2009 attack.
- Even though most Americans support executing shooter Nidal Hasan, a vast majority oppose livestreaming his death by firing squad, according to a ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll out Thursday.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.