Arlington, Virginia: Tomb Sentinel Reprimands Hegseth Group for Laughing After Veterans Day Ceremony

An Army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a group of his senior advisers at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, after some members of the group laughed and talked near the memorial following the Veterans Day ceremony.

Hegseth had been standing in front of the tomb taking photos with his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, his chief of staff Ricky Buria, his deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh, CNN reported. Some in the group laughed and chatted after the photos. The sentinel on patrol stopped, faced the group as it left, and called out across the plaza.

"All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times," the sentinel said. Television cameras recorded the moment, and the footage aired on CNN on Wednesday afternoon.

What is not clear

USA Today reported that it was not clear which members of the group were laughing. NBC News reported that Hegseth made no acknowledgment of the reprimand, looked over his shoulder and continued walking up a set of stairs. Hegseth and his team were at Arlington for the Veterans Day ceremony, which President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also attended. Trump laid a wreath at the tomb during the observance.

The Pentagon response

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN that the "soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum." In a separate statement reported by USA Today, Parnell said Hegseth and the department have always honored, and will always honor, the sacrifices American service members have made to keep the country safe.

The tomb and its guard

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier marks the resting place of an unknown American soldier killed in World War I. A soldier assigned to the Old Guard, the Army 3rd Infantry Regiment, has guarded the tomb around the clock, in all weather, since 1948, CNN reported. Sentinels patrol in front of the tomb, and visitors are expected to stay silent and respectful on the plaza.

A day after the House vote

The incident came one day after the House voted 211 to 204 to refer eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, filed by Representative Thomas Massie, to the Judiciary Committee, a step that blocked an immediate impeachment vote. CNN reported that Hegseth had been under renewed scrutiny in recent days over the articles, which accused him of executing unlawful orders, waging war in Iran without congressional approval, ignoring laws on minimizing civilian casualties and directing extrajudicial killings. Hegseth said on Tuesday that the charges amounted to a policy dispute, not high crimes and misdemeanors.