- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized protesters as "ingrates" for disrupting a ceremony honoring National Guard members in Washington D.C. with sirens, chants, and horn honking.
- Hegseth described the disruptive noise as the "sound of ingrates" who are "blinded by ideology" and unable to see law and order or common sense.
- “This background noise this morning is perfect,” he said as he struggled to drown out the disruptive sounds. “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.
- The ceremony, which also included Attorney General Todd Blanche and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, recognized National Guard members deployed to D.C. last year to address crime and beautify the capital.
- This event is one of many celebrations taking place throughout the week in anticipation of America's 250th anniversary.
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