Republican Senator from Florida Marco Rubiowho was tapped to lead the State Department under the second Trump administration, was repeatedly interrupted by protesters during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
A female protester was heard shouting at Rubio in Spanish, while at least two men, including one in pink, were pulled from the hearing by Capitol Police after shouting.
“I get bilingual protesters,” Rubio joked after a protester shouted at him in Spanish, prompting laughter from the crowd.
Ahead of the hearing that kicked off Wednesday morning, Fox News Digital saw Code Pink protesters wearing bright pink clothing that read “Hands off Iran” and “Stop Killing the Children of Gaza.” They also had anti-Rubio stickers on their headbands and hats.
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A protester is removed from the chamber as U.S. Senator Marco Rubio testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination for Secretary of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO -REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Protesters were warned by the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee prior to the start of the hearing so as not to disrupt the proceedings by stating that they will be removed from the hearing and not allowed to attend a public hearing again for at least one year.
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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 15: A protester demonstrates as US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Building on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Rubio, a three-term senator and member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has broad support from his Senate colleagues but is expected to face questions about Trump’s plans for Greenland, U.S. relations with Russia and the safe return of hostages held by Hamas. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
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“Distraction will not just be noise, not just standing up, not just holding up painted hands, painted signs. None of that will be allowed. If you do that, I’m going to pause the committee. I’m going to ask our friends, first and foremost my trusty Sergeant at Arms here – who may be tougher than the Capitol Police. But also the Capitol Police to help. And we’ll pause for a moment… If you are removed, you will not be allowed to attend any of these public hearings again for at least twelve months. And that’s the purpose of this, as I’ve said, and it’s important work,” Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in his opening statement.
A handful President-elect Donald Trump His Cabinet nominees face Senate hearings this week ahead of his inauguration on Monday.
Protesters outside Senator Marco Rubio’s Senate hearing.
Department of Energy nominee Chris Wright’s confirmation hearing was also interrupted Wednesday by protesters, who shouted about whether his policies will “put out the fires in LA.”
Protesters also interrupted Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday as he joined the Senate Armed Services Committee as he was grilled by lawmakers ahead of a committee vote and a final confirmation vote on his nomination to be defense secretary.
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“Veterans commit suicide and are homeless, but we send money to bomb children in Gaza,” a female protester shouted in fatigue as she was escorted from the hearing, a Fox News Digital video show showed.
An elderly man, handcuffed with zip ties, was also seen being escorted from the hearing. Another man, who also seemed to be wearing fatigue, was seen executed by Capitol Police.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked Hegseth about the protesters during his confirmation hearing, including the war in Israel that has been going on since 2023.
“Another protester, and I think this one was a member of Code Pink, which by the way is now a Chinese communist front group, said you support Israel’s war in Gaza. I support Israel’s existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you also support that war,” said Cotton.
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“I support Israel in destroying and killing every member of Hamas,” Hegseth responded.
