Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth’s opening statement was repeatedly interrupted by several protesters who were swiftly removed from the hearing room after disturbing his confirmation proceedings with shouts and cries.
At least three protesters were removed from the room by Capitol police, prompting Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to angrily admonish the crowd.
“You are a misogynist! You are a Christian fascist,” yelled out one elderly man before he was shuttled by police out of the room.
Wicker thanked police officers for reasserting control.
“I want to thank the authorities for their swift reaction to that outburst and state that similar interruptions will be treated in like manner,” Wicker.
Hegseth thanked Wicker “for figuratively and literally having my back.”