President Donald Trump and his advisers are reportedly debating whether to proceed with livestreaming the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The discussions come amid growing concerns that broadcasting the execution could fuel anti-American propaganda, particularly among Islamic extremist groups, or devolve into a spectacle that reflects poorly on the United States.

Some officials have voiced apprehension about the optics of broadcasting an execution, especially one involving a firing squad shooting a man confined to a wheelchair. Nidal Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down during a 2009 shootout with police following his rampage at Fort Hood. Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had announced the execution would be livestreamed, a statement the Pentagon later confirmed, indicating further details would follow.

Sources close to the planning have revealed internal worries about the video being exploited as propaganda by extremist factions. Court records indicate that Hasan, after his arrest, expressed a desire to die during the attack and become a martyr, a sentiment he reportedly maintained even if executed.

President Trump has solicited opinions from numerous advisers and allies regarding the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution. During these deliberations, various alternatives have been considered. One proposed option involves broadcasting the proceedings up to the moment before the firing squad takes action, then cutting away. Another suggestion is to position cameras outside the execution chamber, potentially showing Hasan being led in but not broadcasting his death.

When questioned about the livestream last week, President Trump stated that a determination was being made, but he agreed that Hasan should be executed regardless of the broadcast method. The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson have publicly stated they would not watch the execution. The opposition or hesitancy expressed by some officials is not centered on Hasan's death sentence, which enjoys broad support among Republicans, but rather on the decision to broadcast the execution itself.

Hasan was charged with killing 13 people and wounding 31 in the November 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood. The initial announcement of the livestream by Defense Secretary Hegseth reportedly caught Army planners by surprise.

This debate highlights the complex considerations surrounding high-profile executions and the potential for media dissemination to be manipulated for political or ideological purposes, particularly in the context of national security and counter-terrorism efforts.