Topline
Protestors briefly disrupted billionaire conservative political donor Charles Koch’s award speech at a Washington, D.C., hotel Thursday night, rushing the stage to condemn his influence on climate change, even while his remarks appeared to rebuke the “chaos and conflict” caused by President Trump.
Charles Koch, co-CEO of Koch Inc., is shown at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs in 2019. (AP … More Photo/David Zalubowski)
Key Facts
Charles Koch, 89, co-CEO of Koch Inc. and a major Republican donor for decades, was accepting the Cato Institute’s Milton Friedman Prize for advancing liberty before several hundred attendees at the Washington Hilton’s ballroom.
Several protestors, dressed in cocktail attire similar to attendees, rushed toward the stage midway through Koch’s speech.
Protestors shouted “Charles lied! People died!” and held banners appearing to read “Billionaires burning the planet” and “Can’t take blood money to hell” before security cleared the stage within a minute.
The closest any protestor got to Koch was about 10 feet.
Koch appeared unhurt and continued his speech after they were removed, saying, “Now you know all the fun I’ve been having.”
Spokespeople for the Cato Institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment; a spokesperson for Koch confirmed that he stayed for the duration of the dinner and is fine.
Key Background
Koch, a billionaire industrialist and longtime funder of libertarian and conservative causes, has spent decades shaping U.S. policy through political donations and think tank support, including the Cato Institute. He’s drawn fierce criticism from the left for backing efforts to roll back environmental regulations, oppose campaign finance reform and fight government oversight—positions critics say protect his corporate interests at the public’s expense. A video tribute to Koch Thursday night made light of the criticism, with clips of former Treasury Secretary Robert Reich and Sen. Bernie Sanders slamming Koch drawing laughter from the audience.
What We Don’t Know
It’s not immediately clear who organized the protest or whether any demonstrators will face charges.
How Did The Protestors Get Into The Ballroom?
Guests passed through metal detectors and security appeared to be present throughout the venue, but it’s unclear how the demonstrators made it past without detection.
Crucial Quote
“When you have those kind of enemies, you know you are doing the right thing,” Koch said after resuming his remarks, drawing a standing ovation.
News Peg
Without naming Trump, Koch’s speech appeared to criticize the president’s protectionist policies and use of state power. Koch warned that “with so much change, chaos and conflict,” many leaders are abandoning classical liberal principles—adding that when “principles are lost, so are freedoms.” The remarks come as Trump’s agenda has at times aligned with libertarian goals, such as deregulation, but diverged sharply on issues like tariffs, trade restrictions and executive authority.
The clash between Koch and Trump is not new. In 2023, a Koch-backed PAC supported South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s unsuccessful presidential campaign.
Contra
Spokespeople for the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Koch’s remarks.
Tangent
The Washington Hilton, where Koch was speaking, is the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Forbes Valuation
Forbes estimates that Koch is worth about $67.5 billion.
Further Reading
Billionaire Charles Koch Shares His Secret Plan To Pass On His Fortune And Influence (Forbes)
Billionaire Charles Koch On Why Cannabis Should Be Legal (Forbes)
Exclusive: Charles Koch Has Given More Than $5 Billion Of His Stock To Two Nonprofits (Forbes)