The report follows Trump’s statement that he would make the final decision on the broadcast and an Axios report, citing four people who had spoken with him, that he privately expressed misgivings. The Pentagon had announced plans to livestream the execution. Hegseth defended making it public, saying, “Because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things.”
Lawmakers from both parties criticized the broadcast, warning it could fuel terrorist recruitment. Republican Senator Thom Tillis called it “beyond disgusting.” Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees Catholic services in the US military, urged Catholic soldiers not to participate in the firing squad and condemned the livestream as contrary to Catholic teachings.