In a dramatic turn of events during a US Senate hearing, Republican senator Markwayne Mullin and union chief Sean O'Brien engaged in a heated war of words that almost escalated into a physical confrontation. The incident took place on Tuesday, with Bernie Sanders, the experienced senator, stepping in as a peacekeeper to prevent any further escalation.

The confrontation began when Mullin, a former cage fighter turned politician, took to his feet to challenge O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Just moments earlier, Mullin had referred to O'Brien as a “moron” and dared him to "stand your butt up." The tension was palpable as the two senators exchanged heated remarks, with Sanders intervening to restore order.

Sanders, visibly frustrated, yelled at Mullin to sit down, banging his gavel repeatedly. He reminded both senators that they were in a Senate hearing and pleaded with them to not worsen the already strained public perception of Congress. "You are a United States senator!" Sanders exclaimed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining decorum.

Although the confrontation never escalated to a physical altercation, the two senators shouted at each other for approximately six minutes before Sanders managed to regain control of the hearing. The intensity of their exchange prompted them to eventually agree to have a peaceful conversation over coffee.

The root cause of this confrontation can be traced back to an interaction between Mullin and O'Brien on a social media platform back in June. During the hearing, Mullin read out O'Brien's original tweets, in which he labeled Mullin as a "greedy CEO" pretending to be self-made and referred to him as a "clown and a fraud." Mullin seized the opportunity to challenge O'Brien to a physical fight, expressing his readiness to settle the dispute in that very moment.

O'Brien, undeterred, responded to Mullin's challenge and goaded him by saying, "You stand your butt up, big guy." This prompted Mullin to rise from his seat, intensifying the confrontation. Fortunately, Sanders intervened promptly, reminding Mullin that he was a senator and urging him to sit down.

Interestingly, Mullin revisited the challenge later in the hearing, proposing a charity fight between himself and O'Brien in April. The hearing ultimately concluded without any further disruptions from either Mullin or O'Brien.

This incident highlights the deep divisions and heated exchanges that can occur within the political arena. It serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining composure and respectful discourse among elected officials, especially during official proceedings.