Vice-President JD Vance said he did not know if the decision to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, which defense secretary Pete Hegseth announced would take place on 3 December in front of a firing squad, "is actually going to happen". This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Vance was asked about how he squares his Christian faith with the Pentagon's decision to broadcast the execution – for the first time in history.
"First of all, I've seen these announcements. I don't know that that's actually going to happen," Vance said. "What I try to remind people is, look, this is a guy who committed, in my view, the worst terrorist attack on American soil outside of 9/11 … So 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."
However, Vance said that if the decision is made to livestream Hasan's execution, he was "not going to be watching it".
The statement came after defense secretary Pete Hegseth announced the decision to livestream the execution. According to Hegseth, the execution will take place on 3 December in front of a firing squad.
Vance's remarks came as backlash against the decision grows within the Republican party. Several Republican congressmen had previously voiced opposition to the Pentagon's plan to broadcast the execution.
Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death by a military court for killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 in a shooting at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) in 2009. It was the deadliest shooting on a US military base in history.
The Pentagon's decision to livestream the execution is unprecedented in US history. Executions are typically carried out in private before a limited group of witnesses.
Vance's statement appears to contradict the Pentagon's official announcement. Hegseth had previously announced the decision to livestream the execution, but Vance cast doubt on whether that decision would be carried out.
The issue has reignited a long-running debate in the US between supporters and opponents of the death penalty. Supporters of the death penalty point to the severity of Hasan's crime, while opponents raise ethical and legal questions about livestreaming an execution.
Vance's answer to the question about his Christian faith demonstrates a gap between his personal position and the administration's decision. He expressed doubt about the method of livestreaming the execution, but did not shy away from condemning Hasan's crime.
The White House has not yet given an official comment on Vance's statement. The Pentagon has also not announced any changes to the plan to livestream the execution.
The backlash within the Republican party indicates possible political consequences of this decision. Some party members are openly stating their opposition to livestreaming the execution.
The execution is scheduled for 3 December. If the decision remains in force, it will be the first time in US history that an execution is livestreamed.