Anti-war demonstrators disrupt Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Army tech forum
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters during an autonomous-warfare panel at the U.S. Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
At the U.S. Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced four interruptions in roughly five minutes from anti-war protesters during a panel on autonomous warfare. The demonstrators, gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, shouted accusations such as “Children in Gaza are starving! He is a war criminal!” and called Hegseth a coward.
Hegseth responded briefly, saying “She thinks highly of me,” before resuming his presentation. All six protesters were eventually escorted out by security while Hegseth continued speaking over the remaining noise. The disruptions come amid broader opposition to U.S. policy in the Middle East, including criticism of the Trump administration’s support for Israel and its 2026 campaign against Iran, which involved joint U.S.-Israeli strikes aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Why it matters
The protest highlights domestic backlash against U.S. autonomous weapons policy and Middle-East military actions.
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