Protesters interrupt Noem hearing with Exorcist line: 'The power of Christ compels you!'

Source: The Guardian

Thu 11 Dec 2025 13.05 EST
Last modified on Thu 11 Dec 2025 13.20 EST


Protesters briefly interrupted the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, during a Capitol Hill hearing on Thursday, evoking a quote from the film The Exorcist.

As Noem delivered her opening remarks before the House committee on homeland security, two protesters disrupted the session, with one yelling: “Stop ICE raids! The power of Christ compels you! End deportations, the power of Christ compels you!” “The power of Christ compels you!” is famously a line used in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist by a priest performing an exorcism.

While Noem smiled silently in response to the demonstration, Capitol police quickly escorted the protester out as he held sign that read “Stop ICE raids” and “Codepink,” likely referencing the anti-war group. Moments later, another protester stood up, displaying a poster that said “No ICE, no troops!” The individual went on to shout: “Get ICE off our streets! Stop terrorizing our communities!” Thursday’s incident comes as Noem faces growing calls for resignation from House Democrats over her handling of Donald Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdowns.

Addressing Noem directly, Mississippi representative Bennie Thompson, the committee’s top Democrat, said at the hearing: “Rather than sitting here and wasting your time and ours more with more corruption, lies and lawlessness, I call on you to resign. Do a real service to the country and just resign, that is if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/11/protesters-kristi-noem-hearing-ice