Protesters donning T-Rex costumes gathered outside confirmation hearings for US President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson.

Crowds gathered outside the hearing included a number of protesters dressed as dinosaurs – both a play on Tillerson’s name and his status as a “climate dinosaur.”

Tillerson’s nomination has stirred controversy and begged questions around how effectively the former head of the world’s largest oil company can transform himself into the top US diplomat.

ready for tomorrow! #rejectrex #rextillerson A photo posted by doyoucopyover (@doyoucopyover) on Jan 10, 2017 at 8:40pm PST

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The Senate Foreign Relations Committee put questions to Tillerson about his suitability for the role of secretary of state under Trump.

Hashtags used to highlight the protests included #Rexxon, #RejectRex and #Exxonknew - which refers to Exxon’s alleged awareness of climate change as early as the 1970s.

Disco dinos never back down #exxonknew #rejectrex A photo posted by Joseph Huff-Hannon (@josephhuffhannon) on Jan 11, 2017 at 5:57am PST

#rejectrex #exxonknew A photo posted by Valentina Stackl (@valentinasweet) on Jan 11, 2017 at 5:35am PST

Rex Tillerson starts his hearings today. For decades, Exxon put profits over the health of our planet & people. Tell the Senate: #rejectREXpic.twitter.com/JckmJq7OTS — Jack Miller (@politicalmiller) January 11, 2017

Demonstrators are calling on the Senate to #RejectRex because, in their words, “ExxonMobil has no place running US foreign policy.”

Inside the Tillerson hearing a woman disrupted proceedings by shouting, “My home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Senators, please stand up for me and our futures.”