Anti-war protestors disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday night, demanding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s arrest for alleged war crimes amid mounting congressional impeachment efforts and a sweeping Pentagon leadership purge.
Dramatic Protest at Annual Dinner
Video footage captured two protestors chanting “Arrest Pete Hegseth for war crimes” at the annual White House event. One protestor wore a suit while holding a sign, while another dressed in a black-and-white prison uniform with handcuffed hands raised above his head and Hegseth’s image on his face. The demonstrators accused Hegseth of threatening genocide, overseeing Caribbean strikes that killed more than 180 people on boats, and planning wars with illegitimate justification.
Protesters crash the White House Correspondents Dinner to call out Pete Hegseth and say he should be arrested for war crimes pic.twitter.com/7EISTZSIoY
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) April 25, 2026
House Democrats File Impeachment Articles
Representative Yassamin Ansari of Arizona led House Democrats in filing six articles of impeachment against Hegseth in mid-April. The resolution accuses him of unauthorized war against Iran, reckless endangerment of service members, violations of armed conflict laws, and targeting civilians. Lawmakers cited the February 28 bombing of an Iranian girls’ school that killed 168 people. The articles also reference a March 2025 scandal when Hegseth sent sensitive military operation information about Yemen through an unprotected Signal group chat.
Pentagon Purge Accelerates Amid Cabinet Exodus
The Defense Department announced this week that Navy Secretary John Phelan departed immediately, with sources telling Axios that Hegseth resented Phelan’s close relationship with President Trump. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George was forced out earlier this month, alongside leaders from Transportation Command, Training Command, and the Chaplain Corps. U.S. Southern Command Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey also retired last year under Hegseth’s leadership.
Broader Administration Turnover
Cabinet departures have accelerated in recent weeks, with three department heads exiting within the last month. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer have all left their positions. The developments coincide with faltering peace talks between Washington and Tehran, creating additional pressure on Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon during a critical period for American military operations and diplomacy.
