Anti-war demonstrators repeatedly interrupted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his keynote address at the U.S. Army's annual convention in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, shouting accusations of war crimes and condemning U.S. military operations abroad.
Hegseth was leading a panel discussion on the future of autonomous warfare, joined by acting Army Secretary Adam Telle, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. But within seconds of his opening remarks, a protester in the audience began shouting and was quickly escorted out of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The disruptions continued throughout the session. One demonstrator yelled, “Children in Gaza are starving! He is a war criminal!” Another shouted, “You’re not a warrior, you’re a coward!” At least five protesters were removed by security, with one briefly sounding a handheld airhorn and another decrying the administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget as “killing people.”
Hegseth responded with sarcasm to one heckler, saying, “She must think highly of me,” before attempting to resume his remarks. The heckling was ultimately drowned out by hundreds of military officials and defense industry insiders in the audience, who broke into chants of “USA, USA, USA!”
The protest came as Hegseth promoted the Trump administration’s sweeping defense spending plan, which he described as a “one-time generational investment” in the U.S. military after years of what he called “chronic underfunding.” The proposed budget represents a nearly 50 percent increase over the previous fiscal year, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and some skepticism from fiscal hawks.
During the panel, Hegseth expressed confidence that Congress would approve the funding regardless of the outcome of the midterm elections, and he has recently intensified efforts to build support on Capitol Hill. The plan faces an uncertain path amid Democratic opposition to the administration’s Iran policy and broader concerns about the nation’s fiscal trajectory.
The disruptions at the Army convention reflect a broader wave of anti-war activism targeting the Pentagon’s leadership, as grassroots groups seek to elevate concerns about civilian casualties and the human cost of U.S. military engagements. Hegseth’s appearance came just days after he outlined his vision for autonomous warfare at the same forum, a topic that has drawn both interest and ethical objections.
In related developments, the Pentagon and the Small Business Administration recently announced an expansion of capital access for defense small firms, a move aimed at broadening the industrial base for emerging technologies. Meanwhile, Hegseth has faced criticism from some GOP lawmakers over his plan to broadcast the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, a proposal that has sparked debate over transparency and military justice.
