Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is heckled and repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters during a panel at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual conference in Washington, D.C. Multiple outlets report that protesters shouted insults and accusations including “war criminal,” “Nazi,” and “coward,” as Hegseth and other officials discussed drones and autonomous or related warfare systems.
Several protesters are escorted out by security after disrupting remarks, with accounts describing multiple separate interruptions within a short span. Some protesters focus their anger on U.S. policy connected to the Iran conflict, while others reference the broader impact on civilians, including comments about children and events in Gaza and elsewhere. Hegseth is described as waiting while protesters are removed and, in at least one account, responding with a light remark.
Outlets differ in how they frame the moment—some emphasize the volume and language of the heckling, while others highlight the panel topic and Hegseth’s response—but all describe the same core incident: protesters try to derail the discussion and are removed from the conference.
