Brian McGinnis, a former US Marine and Green Party senatorial candidate in North Carolina, was forcefully removed from a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing on February 4, 2026, after shouting anti-Iran war slogans.
The session featured testimony from members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Capitol Hill.
In a viral video seen by TNX Africa, McGinnis, dressed in uniform, interrupted the hearing saying, “America doesn’t want to go to this war for Israel.”
Two police officers immediately grabbed him and tried to escort him out as he resisted, continuing, “America doesn’t want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel. Your inability to name that shows your impotence as leaders. This is wrong and nobody wants to fight for Israel.”
Footage showed Montana Senator Tim Sheehy assisting officers in removing McGinnis.
The veteran held onto the door, yelling, “No one wants to fight for Israel.”
US Capitol Police charged McGinnis with three counts of assaulting a police officer and three counts of resisting arrest and blocking or crowding a public space during an illegal protest.
In a statement, the police said, “Brian McGinnis was violently resisting and fighting our officers’ attempts to remove him from the room.”
Senator Sheehy wrote on X, “Capitol Police were attempting to remove an unhinged protestor from the Armed Services hearing. He was fighting back. I decided to help out and deescalate the situation. This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one. I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence.”
McGinnis expressed disappointment on Instagram, with supporters praising his actions.
Rita May wrote, “I hope you’re doing OK Brian. The way you were treated was a disgrace. Thank you for speaking truth to power.” Another user, Stohenberg, added, “Brother you are an inspiration.”