Video obtained by SanDiegoVille shows Hegseth walking away from the camera alongside a young boy believed to be his son. Hegseth is seen wearing a light blue T-shirt with several of his well-known tattoos visible, including the "We The People" tattoo on his forearm.
As Hegseth walked along the beach, a person off-camera can be heard shouting criticism directed toward the cabinet official.
"You're a murderer for what you did to the Iranian girls," the individual yelled.
The person then added, "170 girls are dead because of you."
The confrontation appeared to reference the February 28, 2026, airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls Elementary School in Minab, Iran. According to multiple reports and ongoing investigations, approximately 168 schoolgirls and several teachers were killed during the strike, making it one of the deadliest civilian casualty incidents associated with the current U.S.-Iran conflict.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have called for accountability and transparency regarding the incident. UNICEF and UNESCO publicly condemned the deaths, while lawmakers in Washington have demanded the release of additional information surrounding the strike.
Early military assessments reportedly indicated that a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile may have been responsible. President Donald Trump later stated that the strike was not intentional and remarked that "mistakes are made" during wartime.
The incident has generated continuing political fallout in Washington. Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have reportedly pushed for greater disclosure from the Department of War, including proposals that would restrict portions of Secretary Hegseth's travel budget until additional information and video related to the strike are released.
The video appears to show the young boy looking visibly unsettled as the comments continue. Hegseth does not appear to respond and continues walking away from the individual.
The confrontation concluded with the heckler shouting a final remark:
"Drunk!"
No physical altercation occurred and the brief encounter appeared to have ended as Hegseth continued down the beach.
The incident came during a busy weekend visit to San Diego for the former Fox News host turned cabinet secretary. Hegseth traveled to Naval Base Coronado to participate in NASCAR's historic first-ever national series race held on an active U.S. military installation.
According to the Department of War, Hegseth also toured USS Carl Vinson and met with sailors during the Navy's ongoing 250th anniversary celebrations.
While Hegseth has no known permanent ties to San Diego, the city has become a frequent stop during his tenure due to its status as one of the nation's largest military hubs. San Diego County hosts major Navy and Marine Corps installations, including Naval Base Coronado, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Naval Base San Diego, and the headquarters of numerous Pacific Fleet commands.
Since becoming Secretary of War, Hegseth has emerged as one of the most polarizing members of President Trump's cabinet. Supporters praise his aggressive military posture, emphasis on military readiness, and outspoken advocacy for service members. Critics have accused him of politicizing the military and have sharply criticized his handling of several overseas operations, including the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The Coronado encounter illustrates how those divisions increasingly play out far from Washington, sometimes in unexpected places such as a Southern California beach.
Neither Hegseth nor the Department of War has publicly commented on the incident.
Originally published on June 22, 2026.
