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Nidal Hasan to be executed by firing squad after Christa Pike's botched lethal injection
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Donald Trump has approved the execution of Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Hasan by firing squad, just days after the botched execution of Christa Pike.
Pike, now 50, was supposed to become the first woman in Tennessee to be executed in 200 years, but things didn't go to plan - now, Hasan is set to become the first man to be executed by firing squad since 1945 and the first military execution since 1961.
Donald Trump accepted Pete Hegseth's demand for a firing squad
If there is to be any consolation for Hasan, it's that he won't face the lethal injection that Pike underwent.
After her lawyers argued beforehand that there could be complications, that proved to be the case, as Pike was taken to hospital after being given several doses of the controversial drug pentobarbital.
Her lawyers have since argued that she should have her sentence commuted to life in prison, should she survive, and legal experts have also questioned whether she will ever be fit to have her execution order carried out again.
As for Hasan, he was found guilty of terrorism and murder - among other charges - for his 2009 shooting at Fort Hood.
He killed 12 US service members, a civilian, and injured a further 32 people at the Texas army base.
The former Army officer was heard to shout 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote in a statement confirming the firing squad decision.
Nidal Hasan will face the firing squad for his crimes
That statement read: "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended - and President Donald J. Trump has approved - death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan, the jihadist who opened fire on unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009."
It continued: "The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution,
"Judgment day for Hasan has finally come."
He will become the first military service person executed since 1961, and his method of execution is partially determined by that.
Traditionally, military service personnel are executed by firing squad and - as the statement revealed - Pete Hegseth wanted exactly that.
In a short one-word statement of his own, Hegseth posted: "Justice."
This deliberation has been ongoing since February, when discussions started regarding whether Hasan and three other military death row prisoners would be put to death.
This might not be the last firing squad execution for a while.
Interestingly, before her botched execution, Pike had asked for a firing squad.
Hasan conducted his attack while they were waiting in line for immunizations, only stopping when he was shot in the back and paralyzed by a police officer.
He later said that he took action to defend 'the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban.'
At the time of the United States' chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Hasan wrote a letter that read: "We Have Won!
"All-Praises be to All-Mighty Allah! Congratulations on your victory over those who hate for the Laws of All-Mighty God to be supreme on the land,
"I pray to Allah that He helps you implement Shariah Law fully, correctly, and fairly."
So far, no date has been set for the sentence to be carried out, but we'll expect to hear more about the former Army Major and psychiatrist as things progress.
As for Pike, it's more of a case of whether she survives this first attempt than whether she can have her second execution date.
Who is Nidal Hasan?
Nidal Hasan is a former Army officer and psychiatrist who was convicted of terrorism and murder for a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, where he killed 13 people and injured 32 others.