PETE Hegseth’s confirmation hearing was interrupted by multiple protestors with angry outbursts on Tuesday.
Capitol Police dragged at least four hecklers out of the hearing during Hegseth’s opening remarks as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Police even carried one man out by his arms and legs.
The protestors, who wore camouflage clothes, stood on their chairs and shouted insults at Hegseth as he outlined his plans to lead the Defense Department.
The outbursts came immediately after Hegseth dedicated the hearing to veterans.
“To all the troops and veterans watching and here in this room – Navy Seals, Green Berets, soldiers, pilots, sailors, Marines, Gold Stars and more. To officers enlisted, black and white, young and old, men and women – all Americans, all warriors – this hearing is for you,” Hegseth said.
A woman then jumped up and screamed that her veteran dad died by suicide after his service.
“And you’re sending money to bomb babies,” she screamed.
“Every veteran in here needs to speak up,” she urged before being ushered out of the room.
Another protestor then yelled at Hegseth for supporting “murdering babies.”
“That’s the real recruiting crisis,” he screamed as three officers carried him out of the courtroom.
Hegseth remained calm during the chaos and continued giving his opening statement.
Chairman of the Armed Services Committee Senator Roger Wicker said any protestors would be ejected from the hearing.
“Let me just say this, the Capitol Police are going to remove immediately individuals that are disrupting the hearing,” Wicker said.
“I see a pattern attempted to be inflicted on the committee, and we’re simply not going to tolerate that.”
The outbursts came after protestors with CodePink, an anti-war group, were gathered outside of the courtroom on Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning with signs showing messages slamming Hegseth as a “religious extremist.”
Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks
In the days following his dominant Election Day victory, President-elect Donald Trump has begun carving out his future administation.
Here’s a list of Trump’s confirmed cabinet picks:
- Susie Wiles– White House Chief of Staff
- Dr. Mehmet Oz– Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Stephen Miller– Deputy Chief of Staff
- Bill McGinley– White House counsel
- Tom Homan– “Border Czar”
- Elise Stefanik– Ambassador to the United Nations
- Lee Zeldin– Environmental Protection Agency administrator
- Marco Rubio– Secretary of State
- Kristi Noem– Homeland Security Secretary
- Mike Huckabee– Ambassador to Israel
- John Ratcliffe– CIA director
- Pete Hegseth– Secretary of Defense
- Mike Waltz– National Security Advisor
- Steven Witkoff– Middle East envoy
- Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy– Department of Government Efficiency
- Tim Scott– Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
- Tulsi Gabbard– Director of National Intelligence
- Matt Gaetz– nominated for Attorney General but later refused the position
- Pam Bondi– nominated for Attorney general just hours after Gaetz’s withdrawal
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Jay Clayton– US Attorney for the Southern District of New York
- Doug Burgum – Department of Interior
- Todd Blanche– Deputy Attorney General
- Karoline Leavitt– White House Press Secretary
- Chris Wright– Energy Secretary
- Doug Collins– Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- William McGinley– White House Counsel
- Steven Cheung– White House Communications Director
- William Owen Scharf – Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary
- Dean John Sauer– Solicitor General of the US
- Commissioner Brendan Carr– Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
- Linda McMahon: Education Secretary
- Matthew Whitaker– NATO ambassador
- Scott Bessent– Treasury Secretary
- Keith Kellogg– Special envoy to Russia, Ukraine
- Warren Stephens– Ambassador to the UK
While hecklers brought signs and hats, other attendees showed support for Hegseth by wearing buttons saying “vets for Pete” or t-shirts with pictures of Trump.
Trump’s pick of Hegseth sparked controversy as he faced various allegations including sexual assault, financial mismanagement, and inappropriate workplace behavior.
Protestors and hecklers weren’t the only ones disapproving of Hegseth’s nomination in the courtroom as Senator Jack Reed blasted him during his tense questioning.
“I do not believe you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” Reed said.
“We must acknowledge the concerning public reports… the totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also criticized Hegseth for past remarks he’s made about women.
“You will have to change how you see women to do this job well,” she said.
Hegseth has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and deemed the claims a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us.”
‘WINNER’ PICK
Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance shared their support for Hegseth in response to concerns about his appointment.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well,” Trump posted on Truth Social last month.
“He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind.
“He will be a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill.
“Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”
Vance reposted the message on X and said Hegseth would fight for America’s military.
