Anti-war protesters repeatedly disrupted Hegseth's remarks at an Army event in D.C.
Protesters called Pete Hegseth a "war criminal" and a "coward" during his panel at AUSA, which focused on the Agincourt project and autonomous weapons systems.
WATCH: Protesters dragged out of room after Hexett interrupts military panel
Demonstrators disrupted Secretary of War Pete Heggeth's appearance at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, where top military leaders gathered to discuss the Pentagon's plans for autonomous warfare.
Protesters repeatedly interrupted Secretary of War Pete Heggeth's speech at the military's biggest annual conference on Wednesday, calling him a "war criminal" and a "coward" in protesting the Iran war.
At least five times in the first half hour of a panel discussion, foul-mouthed anti-war protesters yelled at Heggett, calling him a "f--- Nazi," among other insults.
Hegseth initially responded with laughter and sarcastic comments - but his reactions became increasingly curt and provocative as he slammed the "semi-coordinated" attack as protesters emerged one by one in the crowd in Washington, DC.
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"You're not a warrior, you're a coward!" A protester shouted at Hexett.
"He thinks a lot of me," the Pentagon chief said after an outburst.
The protesters spread out across the room, waiting a few minutes between outbursts to interrupt the panel with their anti-war messages.
As Hexett said, noting a pattern among the outbreaks, he acknowledged: "It looks like we have a tactic."
Demonstrators were forcibly removed by security for the event - at least one woman had to be escorted out of the room by several officers as she continued to shout her protest.
The delegation accompanying Hexett included Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hong Cao, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meinke and Undersecretary for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Derrick Evans.
As the disturbances continued, speakers stopped and tried to speak to the protesters amid the tumult of shouting.
It's unclear how the protesters received credentials to attend the event, known as AUSA, which brings together military personnel and the defense contractors who serve them.
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The panel focused on Project Agincourt, the Pentagon's initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous weapons and military systems.
Hexett joined senior leadership from the service branches to discuss how the military plans to integrate drones, robotics and other autonomous technologies.
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