Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his entourage were publicly reprimanded by a U.S. Army sentinel Wednesday, after laughter and conversation disrupted the solemn atmosphere surrounding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery during a Veterans Day visit. The incident, captured on video and aired by CNN, occurred after a ceremony honoring fallen American service members.
Hegseth had been posing for photographs near the memorial alongside his wife, Jennifer, and several senior aides, including chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh. As the group finished taking pictures and began leaving, some members were heard laughing and talking. The soldier, who was conducting his routine patrol, stopped and addressed the group, calling out, “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.” The group appeared to turn toward the sentinel before continuing up the steps.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is among the nation’s most revered military memorials, honoring unidentified American service members who died in war. Three unidentified service members are interred there, representing World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Members of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, have maintained a continuous guard at the tomb since 1948, with sentinels enforcing strict standards of conduct and respect.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also attended Wednesday’s Veterans Day ceremony. The incident drew attention online, particularly because it occurred during a national observance dedicated to honoring military veterans and their sacrifices. The Pentagon’s response, reported by The Associated Press, described the sentinel’s reminder as appropriate and reaffirmed that Hegseth and the Defense Department honor the sacrifices of American service members.
The encounter also came one day after House Republicans blocked an effort to advance impeachment proceedings against Hegseth. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., had filed eight articles of impeachment accusing the defense secretary of misconduct related to the administration’s military operations. Hegseth rejected the allegations, characterizing the effort as a political dispute rather than grounds for impeachment.
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