Hegseth rebuked by military guard for laughing during visit to US military tomb
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his team were reprimanded by an Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Wednesday after laughter and talking were heard near the memorial following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Video from the event shows Hegseth posing for photos on the steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, along with chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.
As the group finished taking pictures and began to leave, audible laughter and conversation could be heard.
The Army sentinel on duty, a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment known as the Old Guard, stopped his patrol, turned toward the group, and called out: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
Hegseth glanced over his shoulder toward the soldier before continuing up the steps.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the most sacred US war memorials, holds the remains of an unidentified service member killed in World War I and has been guarded around the clock by soldiers from the Old Guard since 1948.
Cemetery rules require visitors to speak quietly and avoid disrespectful or disorderly conduct.Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded to the incident in a statement: “The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored—and will always honor—the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe. While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
The confrontation occurred shortly after President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other officials participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the site. Hegseth, a former Army National Guard soldier who served in Iraq, was present as part of the official Veterans Day observances.
The episode drew attention one day after Hegseth narrowly survived an impeachment effort in the House of Representatives.
Critics, including the progressive veterans group VoteVets, described the moment as a “disgrace,” while the Pentagon maintained that the sentinel had acted appropriately to uphold the site’s standards of respect
