Nicolai Haugsted
The defense secretary is under mounting pressure after 72 former military leaders condemned his proposed public execution broadcast.
Pete Hegseth is facing an extraordinary backlash from within the American military establishment, with dozens of former senior officers publicly challenging a decision they believe could have dangerous consequences for the United States.
According to The Daily Beast, the defense secretary’s controversial proposal to turn a military execution into a globally televised event has sparked fierce criticism, including warnings that the spectacle could damage the armed forces’ reputation and endanger American lives.
Now, 72 retired military leaders, including generals, admirals, and military lawyers, have signed an open letter demanding that Hegseth abandon his plan to livestream the execution of convicted mass murderer Nidal Hasan.
The former officers have described the proposal as a “barbaric abuse of authority” and are urging President Donald Trump and Congress to intervene.
A firing squad before a worldwide audience
At the heart of the controversy is Nidal Hasan, a 56-year-old former Army psychiatrist responsible for one of the deadliest shootings at an American military installation.
In November 2009, Hasan opened fire at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and attempting to murder another 32.
Police shot Hasan during the attack, leaving him partially paralyzed.
He was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to death. His execution is reportedly scheduled for December 3, when he is expected to face a firing squad.
The event would mark the first execution carried out by the American military since 1961.
Hegseth has proposed broadcasting the execution live, arguing that the footage would demonstrate the consequences of terrorism.
However, the proposal has provoked objections from former military leaders who argue that justice should not be turned into public entertainment.
Military veterans warn of a disturbing spectacle
The 72 signatories have made their opposition clear in an open letter published Wednesday.
Their central argument is that broadcasting an execution would undermine the dignity and solemnity expected of the American military justice system.
“It turns what should be the solemn and grave punishment of a member of our society for committing the most serious crimes into a carnival for the enjoyment of voyeurs and spectators,” the officers wrote.
They also point to existing Army regulations that strictly control who may attend military executions.
Those rules restrict the number of witnesses, prohibit children from attending, and prevent journalists from conducting interviews at the execution site.
According to the retired officers, opening the event to a worldwide audience would directly undermine the principles those restrictions were designed to protect.
Their objections do not challenge Hasan’s conviction or death sentence.
Instead, they argue that even people convicted of the most serious crimes remain entitled to constitutional protections and basic human dignity.
Fears that extremists could exploit the footage
Beyond the ethical concerns, the former military leaders warn that broadcasting Hasan’s death could have serious national security implications.
They believe extremist organizations could use the footage as propaganda, potentially inspiring violence against American military personnel and civilians.
“This type of exploitative broadcasting—that debases human dignity—will taint the honor of the military that employs it, and a nation that allows it,” the letter states.
The officers also warn that the consequences could extend well beyond the execution itself.
“It will be used by our nation’s enemies to stoke hatred, harm American soldiers and citizens in the future, and will ensure that Hasan becomes a martyr for attacking and killing his fellow soldiers.”
Among those who signed the letter are retired four-star Army General Johnnie Wilson and retired three-star General Claudia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve that rank in the US Army.
Retired Marine Major General Charles Bolden, who later served as NASA administrator, has also added his name.
Trump appears to be having second thoughts
The controversy has reportedly spread beyond retired military officials.
According to The Daily Beast, at least 60 serving military personnel have sought exemptions from participating in the execution.
Meanwhile, the proposed livestream has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
Trump initially supported the public broadcast but has reportedly expressed doubts following objections from Republican lawmakers and military veterans.
The shift has placed Hegseth under additional pressure as he faces scrutiny over other aspects of the administration’s military policies.
For the defense secretary, the criticism is particularly significant because it comes from individuals who spent decades serving in the institution he now leads.
Former generals demand presidential intervention
The retired officers are now calling on Trump, Congress, and ordinary Americans to prevent the execution from becoming a public broadcast.
“As retired General and Flag Officers, Judge Advocate officers, and others with decades of military justice experience, we ask the President, our Congressional representatives, and our fellow citizens to act to prevent this barbaric abuse of authority,” they wrote.
Their letter argues that broadcasting the killing would compromise the values the American military is supposed to uphold.
“Livestreaming an execution debases the values, principles, and commitment to basic human dignity of our military and our nation.”
The signatories also reject the argument that the public needs to witness Hasan’s death to appreciate the severity of his crimes.
“The public need not witness Hasan’s execution to understand the consequences of his serious crime.”
With December 3 approaching, Hegseth’s proposal has therefore become a test of how far the administration is prepared to go in making military punishment visible to the public.
The retired officers are not demanding that Hasan escape his sentence. They are demanding that the American military carry it out without turning his death into a worldwide spectacle.
