A soldier stationed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery issued a verbal reprimand to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a group of his staffers following a Veterans Day ceremony. The incident occurred as Hegseth was taking photographs on the empty steps in front of the tomb alongside his wife, Jennifer, his chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.
Video footage of the event captures a loud laugh from the group as they finished taking photos, prompting the guard to shout that "all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a highly revered war memorial, serving as the final resting place for unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. It has been guarded around the clock by the US Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," since 1948.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell addressed the situation, stating that "while commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum." Parnell added that the Secretary and the Department of Defense remain committed to honoring the sacrifices made by military personnel to ensure national safety. Hegseth and his team had been participating in a Veterans Day ceremony that was also attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
This incident follows a period of significant political pressure for Hegseth, who narrowly survived an impeachment effort in Congress on Tuesday. The motion, led by Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie and supported by Democrats, was ultimately unsuccessful, though analysts suggest the effort may be renewed once Democrats assume control of the House and Senate in January. During his first news conference in months, Hegseth criticized the impeachment attempt, describing Massie as a rogue lawmaker and asserting that he had not committed any impeachable offenses. He further argued that the criticisms leveled against him regarding his management of the military were "sabotage" and an indictment of the nation's service members themselves.
