Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was repeatedly interrupted by protesters Wednesday during a high-profile military technology panel in Washington, cracking jokes as demonstrators shouted accusations of war crimes affiliated with the ongoing U.S. war with Iran.
The confrontations unfolded at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where Hegseth joined senior civilian military leaders to discuss Project Agincourt, the Pentagon’s push to accelerate autonomous warfare.
Six protesters interrupted the roughly hour-long discussion. Their objections also referenced the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Security personnel removed them individually, and the panel continued between outbursts.
“You’re not a warrior, you’re a coward,” one protester shouted, according to Defense News. Another accused military leadership of profiting from bombs that killed members of the protester’s family.
After the first interruption, Hegseth joked, “She thinks highly of me,” drawing laughter and applause from the packed ballroom.
The former Fox News host also remarked that the stage felt familiar because “it feels like a television set.”
As the interruptions continued, he observed, “Appears we have a bit of a tactic.”
Military.com followed the panel via a live video feed from an overflow room at the convention center, where the interruptions repeatedly stopped or competed with the on-screen discussion.
At another juncture, some audience members began chanting “USA, USA” as security removed a demonstrator. One woman carrying a sign opposing war with Iran was carried from the room, according to Stars and Stripes.
What the Pentagon Was There to Discuss
The event brought together acting Army Secretary Adam Telle, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Derrick Anderson, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. Owen West, who leads Project Agincourt, moderated.
Project Agincourt is intended to speed development and purchase of drones, robots and other autonomous systems. Hegseth announced the initiative Sept. 30 alongside plans for an Autonomous Warfare Command, a four-star organization intended to coordinate autonomous systems across the armed services.
The initiative follows the Army’s push to accelerate AI-assisted battlefield operations, including technology designed to help commanders identify threats and make decisions more quickly.
The Pentagon wants the command operating by Oct. 1, 2027, although establishing it will require congressional action. The proposal is part of a broader effort to get unmanned equipment to troops faster.
At Wednesday’s discussion, Hegseth said the armed services supported the effort and defended giving the new command senior leadership and authority to act quickly.
“The services are not fighting us on this concept. They believe in it,” Hegseth said.
He also argued that military developers must test new systems with front-line personnel and adapt them as technology and threats change. The panel offered few additional specifics about the command’s structure.
AUSA Responds to the Disruptions
The Association of the United States Army said in a statement provided to Fox News that the First Amendment right to protest is fundamental, but registered attendees must follow the conference’s code of conduct.
The organization said the interruptions violated those rules and thanked security and Metropolitan Police for allowing the discussion to continue.
AUSA’s published code prohibits disrupting presentations and permits removal from the meeting. The protesters’ affiliations and whether they planned the interruptions together were not independently established.
Despite repeated confrontations, the panel continued discussing the Pentagon’s plans to deploy autonomous systems in military operations while security escorted the demonstrators out of the ballroom.
