Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at the Association of the United States Army 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
The discussion around public executions has reignited after President Trump canceled plans to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter. Trump noted on social media that while streaming “might have been a strong deterrent,” many “would rather not watch him die.” Despite the cancellation, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s initial announcement of a public execution has raised concerns among religious scholars.
Julie Ingersoll, a religion professor at the University of North Florida, remarked that such declarations push societal boundaries, saying, “Just saying it out loud moves the boundary.”
The last public execution by the U.S. government was nearly a century ago. Hegseth had suggested that televising the execution of Nidal Hasan, responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood attack that left 13 dead and 32 injured, could prevent future incidents. Hasan’s execution is scheduled for Dec. 3.
Hegseth told Real America’s Voice, “We’ll make sure that people are able to … watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that … there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”
Ingersoll and others note Hegseth’s religious affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), whose leader envisions a theonomous America. Matthew Taylor of Georgetown University calls Hegseth’s views “far outside the mainstream,” describing him as a “religious extremist.”
Near “unanimous endorsement” of the death penalty in the CREC
Reactions to the livestream proposal included condemnation from various religious figures. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, representing U.S. military Catholics, expressed disapproval and advised Catholic firing squad members to seek excusal. Taylor describes Hegseth’s views as atypical within American Christianity.
Ingersoll, however, notes that within Hegseth’s church, the death penalty enjoys strong support. “There’s a pretty much unanimous endorsement,” she said, explaining that their interpretation of the Bible still supports capital punishment.
Questions arise about whether Hasan’s religious identity influenced the proposal. Joshua Salaam, president of the Association of Muslim Chaplains, suggests it might, noting, “It has something to do with his religious beliefs, his religious identity.”
Ingersoll attributes Hegseth’s stance to the CREC’s goal of Christian governance, stating, “He sees himself as engaged in a battle on behalf of God against the infidels.”
A new “crusade” from the Pentagon
Hegseth’s nomination to the Pentagon attracted attention partly due to his tattoos, which include the Jerusalem Cross and the phrase “Deus Vult.” Later, he added an Arabic script tattoo meaning “infidel.” Taylor notes these elements, alongside his book American Crusade, reflect a specific worldview.
“Hegseth is, for lack of a better term, obsessed with the Crusades,” Taylor commented. Ingersoll states that for the CREC, historical conflicts between Christianity and Islam are foundational to their ideology.
Ingersoll describes this as “dominionism,” a belief that Christians should implement religious governance across society. This concept, she notes, is in tension with American democratic principles.
Taylor warns that Hegseth’s actions may signal attempts to align the military with Christian nationalist ideologies. “He is trying to consolidate the military around a particular ideology,” Taylor said.
Efforts to reach the Pentagon for comment were unsuccessful by publication time.
Normalizing an extreme idea
Public executions have been discussed in right-wing circles. In a 2024 podcast, Charlie Kirk supported the idea, suggesting it could be televised and sponsored by corporations to raise funds.
Ingersoll links such discussions to a desire for transgression within certain conservative circles. “Part of what is underneath Christian nationalism … is this interest in being transgressive,” she explained.
Even if the livestream doesn’t occur, Taylor sees it as a warning of how influential figures like Hegseth might shift societal norms toward extremist goals.
Salaam emphasizes the moral implications of public executions, noting their potential impact on society’s values. “It does something to all of us to have to watch something like that publicly,” he said.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
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