President Trump was handed two questions that invited the usual polished, consultant-approved answers. Instead, he gave responses that were blunt enough to make the political class reach for its fainting couches. He defended American monuments targeted during the 2020 riots, then stood by the planned execution of Fort Hood mass killer Nidal Hasan.
While discussing his administration’s effort to restore and protect monuments, President Trump said, “We protect Lincoln. We protect Washington,” and added, “We protect Thomas Jefferson.” He also pointed to the Christopher Columbus statue now standing near the White House. Apparently, preserving history is controversial when the people doing the complaining would rather erase it.
The administration has backed that position with more than words. The White House’s 2026 Columbus Day proclamation declared October 12 as Columbus Day and described Columbus as a symbol of courage, faith, and perseverance. It also highlighted the installation of a 13-foot replica of the Baltimore Columbus monument on White House grounds.
The original statue had stood for more than three decades after its 1984 dedication by President Ronald Reagan. Rioters pulled it down and threw it into Baltimore Harbor on July 4, 2020. Its replacement near the White House represents a visible reversal of that episode, giving the monument debate a concrete symbol instead of another round of political theater.
President Trump was then asked whether he stood by the decision to execute Hasan by firing squad, amid backlash over plans to livestream the execution. His answer was just as direct: “Death penalty through firing squad,” Trump replied. “And he deserves it.” That is not the kind of carefully watered-down statement normally produced by a room full of advisers.
Hasan is not awaiting trial. According to the Army’s official announcement, he was convicted in 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder for the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood. The Army has scheduled his execution for 1 p.m. on December 3, 2026, at the same installation where he opened fire on soldiers preparing to deploy.
The announced method is a military firing squad. The Army said the secretary of the Army sent a recommendation to the secretary of war, who then made a recommendation to the president. President Trump approved the sentence, completing the required executive review before the Army set the date.
Hasan admitted at his court-martial that he was the shooter. A military jury sentenced him to death after hearing evidence that he killed 13 people and wounded 32 others inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center.
The current controversy is focused less on whether Hasan committed the massacre and more on how the sentence will be carried out. The Associated Press reported that Pentagon officials confirmed the firing-squad execution will be livestreamed, although the government has not released the viewing platform or detailed access rules. The report said it would be the first U.S. military execution in more than 65 years. The last military execution occurred in 1961, while the last military firing-squad execution took place shortly after World War II.
President Trump’s answers put him firmly behind both historical preservation and the sentence approved through the military justice system. Critics can complain, but the president is not treating either issue as something to be hidden behind diplomatic word salad.
🚨 LFG! Donald Trump just told the leftists who want to rip down American history statues to SCREW OFF
"We protect Lincoln."
"We protect Washington."
"We protect Thomas Jefferson."
COLUMBUS is back up near the White House too.
I voted to PROTECT our history! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/25fWOnCQdv
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 9, 2026
🔥 LET'S GO! President Trump is STANDING BY his decision to PUBLICLY EXECUTE the Fort Hood shooter, despite the leftist backlash
"DEATH PENALTY THROUGH FIRING SQUAD! And he DESERVES it!"
We're putting this jihadi terrorist down on a LIVESTREAM 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/iYHBS54NZ3
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 9, 2026
Secretary Hegseth was asked about the execution of Nidal Hasan:
"No-brainer—execution by firing squad…
Of course we're doing it at Fort Hood. We're going to do it at 1 o'clock—which is when he did it. It's going to be soldiers with rifles executing the firing squad." pic.twitter.com/QqjJrAZK41
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) October 8, 2026
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