▲ U.S. President Donald Trump
As criticism grows in the U.S. over the live broadcast of a Muslim terrorist's execution by firing squad, U.S. online media outlet Axios reported on October 12 (local time) that President Donald Trump has privately signaled a negative stance.
An aide stated that as voices condemning the live-streamed execution erupted from both the Democratic and Republican parties, President Trump remarked that the broadcast "might not happen."
Axios added that the aide is not a government official.
President Trump did not appear to be particularly enthusiastic about the live broadcast, and the aide said, "That is why he has been making calls here and there to ask what people think."
Another aide who spoke with President Trump said, "The president wants Hasan (the death row inmate facing execution by firing squad) to pay the price," while adding, "at the same time, the president does not want to turn Hasan into a martyr."
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on October 9 regarding the execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim who opened fire while serving in the U.S. military in 2009 and killed 13 people, that "we're going to let people watch it."
President Trump previously approved the execution by firing squad earlier this month, with the scheduled date set for this coming December.
As soon as Secretary Hegseth's remarks became known, various sectors in the U.S. expressed concerns, arguing that broadcasting an execution is not only inhumane but could also provoke Islamic extremists.
Axios also pointed out that President Trump has been subtly shifting his stance since Secretary Hegseth's remarks were made.
On October 9, the day Secretary Hegseth's remarks were released, Trump told reporters at the White House that he was "totally in favor" of the matter, but in an interview released late that night, he said, "I'm not involved in that decision, but I understand it."
Then, on October 10, while acknowledging that there are pros and cons to broadcasting it live, President Trump sought to take control of the situation by stating, "I will make the final decision."
Investigations showed that Hasan suffered from psychological stress ahead of his deployment to Afghanistan and committed "homegrown terrorism."
The tragedy at the time was recorded as the worst terrorist attack on the U.S. mainland since the September 11 attacks.
If Hasan's execution by firing squad is made public as Secretary Hegseth previewed, it would be the first time in about 90 years since the 1936 case of Rainey Bethea, a Black man whose hanging for the rape of a white woman was publicized in Kentucky.
The BBC reported on October 11 that recent studies suggest Secretary Hegseth and the Trump administration may be misreading the current mood within the U.S., citing a University of California, Berkeley survey showing that a preference for violence in the U.S. is on the decline.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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