Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday called protesters "ingrates" and "ingratitude" as his speech to National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was drowned out by demonstrators. The event at Meridian Hill Park saw service members waiting in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit after Hegseth arrived late.
Hegseth's Response to Protesters
Addressing the crowd, Hegseth said, "This background noise this morning is perfect. It’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude, of people who are so blinded by ideology they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them." He added, "There’s nothing ideological about this group. There’s nothing political about this exercise. Law and order is something all Americans deserve."
Footage from the event showed protesters shouting "shame, shame, shame" and other insults as Hegseth departed. The anger appeared directed at Hegseth and other administration officials.
Context of the National Guard Deployment
Thursday's event recognized National Guard members deployed to Washington to support President Donald Trump's anti-crime initiative. Trump launched the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force in March 2025, vowing to combat what he described as "crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor" in the district. Despite his claims of rampant lawlessness, crime rates in Washington had actually reached their lowest point in decades at the time.
The Trump administration has touted a historic drop in violent crime, but outside analysts have questioned the National Guard's actual impact on crime reduction.
