A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his aides at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, after laughter was heard on the steps, according to Euronews.
The soldier’s rebuke came after the group finished taking photos. According to Dawn, the guard shouted that "all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." Dawn reported that the sentinel appeared to rebuke the group from a distance, but that detail is not confirmed by other sources.
Video of the visit shows Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh taking photos on the steps, according to The Hindu.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the soldier "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum" on the solemn day, according to The Hindu. The Pentagon statement is the only official reaction reported. Hegseth and his office have not responded to the reprimand itself in the reports available.
Rep. Gwen Moore said in a social media post that Hegseth showed "his utter lack of fitness for his office" by disrespecting the tomb, according to The Hindu. Moore’s comments are her own claims and have not been confirmed by any other official account.
The incident came a day after the House rejected an effort by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie to impeach Hegseth. The effort was backed by Democrats, according to The Hindu.
The tomb is guarded around the clock by a soldier from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard," a practice in place since 1948, according to The Hindu. The soldier involved has not been identified in any source.
Democrats who take control of Congress in January have promised to investigate Hegseth and have not ruled out another impeachment effort. The Hindu reported that Democrats may renew impeachment efforts once they hold the House and Senate.
For background, Dawn reported that a Trump campaign staffer was accused of shoving a cemetery employee at a ceremony there in 2024. The Hindu reported that the staffer reportedly did so, and that US law prohibits campaign activities in national military cemeteries.
The main gaps are that all accounts of the exchange rely on a single video and its audio, with no witness accounts or independent confirmation of the words spoken. Dawn said the incident was first reported by CNN, which was not available for this report. Euronews published a short article, and Dawn and The Hindu were the only fuller reports reviewed.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.