“No one wants to die for Israel,” Marine yells at Senate hearing — and the removal turns violent
WASHINGTON — A disruption at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing over the U.S. military campaign involving Iran is ricocheting across social media after video showed a former Marine being forcibly removed while shouting, “No one wants to fight for Israel,” and appearing to suffer an injury during the struggle.
The protester was identified by Capitol Police and news outlets as Brian C. McGinnis of North Carolina, a Marine veteran and Green Party U.S. Senate candidate. He began yelling during the hearing, objecting to the direction of U.S. war policy and suggesting Americans do not want to go to war on Israel’s behalf, according to an Associated Press account and police statements.
Capitol Police officers moved to remove McGinnis from the hearing room, but authorities said he resisted and became combative. In widely shared footage, McGinnis clung to a doorway as officers tried to pull him free. Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana, a former Navy SEAL, stepped in and assisted officers by grabbing McGinnis’ legs as they worked to detach him from the door area and move him out.
During the scuffle, McGinnis’ hand or arm appeared to become trapped as he held onto the doorway, prompting audible reactions from people in the room. Social media posts quickly claimed his hand was “broken,” but authorities have not confirmed the specific nature of his injury in public statements. Reuters reported that McGinnis’ hand was caught in a door and a cracking sound was heard, while AP reported that McGinnis and three Capitol Police officers were treated for injuries.
Capitol Police said McGinnis “purposefully” got his arm stuck as part of resisting removal, and they accused him of endangering officers by violently resisting arrest. Police said three officers were treated following the incident. McGinnis was arrested and faces multiple charges, including counts of assaulting an officer and resisting arrest, as well as unlawful demonstration, according to AP.
Sheehy defended his decision to physically assist, saying he was trying to help de-escalate and end a chaotic situation quickly. In remarks reported by Reuters and other outlets, Sheehy described McGinnis as “looking for a confrontation” and argued that ending the disruption was necessary for safety.
The episode unfolded amid heightened tensions over U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran and the political fight in Washington over whether Congress should restrict presidential authority to continue military action. A bid to advance a war-powers measure aimed at reining in the president’s ability to sustain military operations without explicit congressional authorization was blocked in the Senate this week, keeping the legal and political debate simmering as the conflict continues.
McGinnis did not immediately comment publicly on the incident in reports cited by Reuters. In online clips and reposts, supporters framed him as a whistleblower protesting war, while critics argued he disrupted a lawful proceeding and endangered others by resisting removal.
