Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who was tapped to lead the Department of State under the second Trump administration, was repeatedly interrupted by protesters during his Senate hearing on Wednesday.
One female protester was heard shouting at Rubio in Spanish, while at least two men, including one wearing pink, were seen being pulled out of the hearing by Capitol Police after shouting.
“I get bilingual protesters,” Rubio quipped after a protester yelled at him in Spanish, earning laughter from the crowd.
Ahead of the hearing kicking off on Wednesday morning, Fox News Digital spotted Code Pink protesters wearing bright pink with shirts reading, “hands of Iran,” and “stop killing the children of Gaza.” They also sported anti-Rubio stickers on their headbands and hats.
HEGSETH INTERRUPTED BY MULTIPLE PROTESTERS DURING SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING
A protester is removed from the room as US Senator Marco Rubio testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be 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 chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ahead of the hearing kicking off to not disrupt proceedings, saying they will be removed from the hearing and won’t be permitted back to a public hearing for at least a year.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM PETE HEGSETH’S SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 15: A protester demonstrates as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations confirmation hearing at Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Rubio, a three-term Senator and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has broad bipartisan support from his Senate colleagues but is expected to face questions over Trump’s plans for Greenland, U.S. relations with Russia and the safe return of Hamas-held hostages. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Getty images)
PROTESTS ERUPT IN CHRIS WRIGHT’S CONFIRMATION HEARING
“Distractions will include not only noise, not only standing up, not only 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 of all, my, my faithful, Sergeant at Arms here — who’s, perhaps, tougher than the Capitol Police. But also the Capitol Police to assist. And, we will pause briefly … If you are removed, you’ll not be permitted back into one of these public hearings for at least 12 months. And, that’s the purpose of this is, as I’ve stated, and it’s important work,” Republican Idaho Sen. James Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in opening remarks.
A handful of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his cabinet are facing Senate hearings this week ahead of his inauguration on Monday.
Protesters outside of Sen. Marco Rubio’s Senate hearing.
