During the U.S. Army’s annual convention in Washington, D.C., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was repeatedly heckled by anti-war protesters. The incident occurred while Hegseth was leading a panel discussion focused on the future of autonomous warfare, an event that included several high-ranking military officials.

According to reports, the protesters directed specific accusations toward the Defense Secretary, labeling him a war criminal and condemning broader U.S. military involvement in international conflicts. The disruptions forced pauses in the proceedings as the demonstrators made their grievances known to the audience and the panel members.

While the event was intended to address technological advancements in military strategy, the focus shifted briefly to the protesters' dissent. There is currently no information regarding the specific response from Hegseth or the military officials on stage during the interruptions, nor has there been a detailed account of how security personnel handled the removal of the protesters. The event continued following the disruptions, with the panel moving forward with its scheduled discussion on military modernization and autonomous systems.