Vice President Vance said Friday that he has no intention of tuning in if the Pentagon proceeds with plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.
Speaking to reporters in Lima, Ohio, Vance acknowledged the administration's announcement but expressed skepticism about whether it would actually happen. "I've seen those announcements. I don't know if that's actually going to happen," he said.
Vance then underscored the severity of Hasan's crimes, calling the attack "the worst terrorist attack on American soil outside of 9/11." He noted that Hasan targeted soldiers he was supposed to treat for mental health issues, taking advantage of their vulnerability. "He gunned down these people where they lived," Vance said.
While Vance defended the death sentence, he drew a line at watching the execution itself. "Whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don't forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people," he said. "Now that said, if it's ultimately livestreamed, I'm not going to be watching it."
The controversy stems from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement Thursday that the public would be able to watch Hasan's execution by firing squad. "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public," Hegseth said in an interview with Real America's Voice.
The plan has drawn swift bipartisan condemnation. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) wrote on X that he supports the death sentence but called livestreaming "what jihadists do," adding, "America is better than that." Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) described the move as "disgusting" on CNN, questioning whether Hegseth is "mimicking ISIS executions."
Other lawmakers have also weighed in. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has blasted the plan, and Sen. Thom Tillis has rebuked it. Rep. Seth Moulton and Sen. Jon Ossoff have called for Hegseth's removal over the proposal. The backlash has even reached the White House, with President Trump reportedly wavering on the idea.
Hasan, a U.S. Army major, was sentenced to death in 2013 for the shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas. The execution would be the first military firing squad execution since 1961. Hegseth has defended the decision as a matter of transparency, but critics argue it sensationalizes state-sanctioned killing.
Vance's comments come as he campaigns in Ohio, where he is supporting Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno. The vice president's remarks may signal a shift in the administration's stance, though no official change has been announced.
