Chaos erupted on Capitol Hill Tuesday during Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, as protesters repeatedly disrupted the proceedings. Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, faced not only tough questions from senators but also vocal opposition from agitators who had waited hours to secure seats in the crowded hearing room.
Hegseth began his opening remarks by addressing recent media attacks on his character, including allegations of alcohol abuse and womanizing—claims he firmly denied. But before he could finish, the hearing was thrown into disarray.
“You are a misogynist!” shouted an elderly man from the back of the room, cutting Hegseth off mid-sentence. The man was quickly dragged out by security, but not before omnidirectional microphones caught part of his rant. Hegseth, unfazed, calmly sipped water and waited for order to be restored.
Moments later, a female protester stood and shouted over Hegseth as he spoke about restoring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon. Security once again intervened, restraining and removing the woman while cameras rolled. A third protester soon followed, screaming louder than the first two and struggling so violently that multiple officers had to physically carry him out of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
Despite the chaos, Hegseth pressed on. “The primary charge [President Trump] gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense,” he stated. “He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, war-fighting, and readiness.”
Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) worked to keep the hearing on track, telling Hegseth, “You may continue, sir,” after each disruption. Once order was restored, Wicker questioned Hegseth directly about media reports alleging a drinking problem following his military service. Hegseth dismissed the allegations outright, calling them part of a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. Our leftwing media in America today sadly doesn’t care about the truth.”
The disruptions highlighted the deep divide over Hegseth’s nomination. His outspoken conservative views, military background, and time as a Fox News host have made him a lightning rod for criticism from the left. Yet, his focus on rebuilding military readiness and tackling the Pentagon’s recruitment and retention crises resonate strongly with many Republicans.
The Senate is expected to vote on Hegseth’s confirmation by the end of the week, a move that would help secure President-elect Trump’s leadership team for national security just days before taking office.