Story perspectives

Protesters disrupt Hegseth panel at AUSA 2026 meeting

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 12:03 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Press calls activists performative

Protesters interrupted a panel with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Association of the U.S. Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 14, 2026.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson labeled the demonstrators “performative, left-wing activists” and said disruption did not deter Hegseth.
Panel discussed Project Agincourt, Pentagon plan for a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command by October 1 2027.
Six protesters were escorted out after shouting accusations such as “war criminal” and “Nazi.”

Right

Security praised protest escalates

Protesters interrupted a panel with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2026 Meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 14, 2026.
The Association said attendees signed a code of conduct and praised security removal for preserving order.
Hegseth chuckled and made sarcastic remarks before becoming irritated as the protest continued.
Police and venue guards forcibly escorted the protesters, including a woman carried out while still shouting.

1 of 2

Press calls activists performative

Protesters interrupted a panel with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Association of the U.S. Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 14, 2026.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson labeled the demonstrators “performative, left-wing activists” and said disruption did not deter Hegseth.
Panel discussed Project Agincourt, Pentagon plan for a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command by October 1 2027.
Six protesters were escorted out after shouting accusations such as “war criminal” and “Nazi.”

1 / 2