Hegseth, staff reprimanded by guard at US military tomb

Detailed summary

A soldier guarding Arlington National Cemetery shouted that everyone should maintain an atmosphere of silence after loud laughs were heard at the site.

A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has issued a verbal reprimand to a group of advisers and staffers, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Video shows Hegseth taking photos on the empty steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.

As the group broke from taking photos, a loud laugh could be heard, and the soldier guarding the tomb shouted that "all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times."

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's top spokesperson, said that "while commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."

"The Secretary and the entire Department have always honoured — and will always honour — the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe," he added.

The tomb is considered one of the most solemn and revered war memorials in the US, and it houses the final resting place of unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. It has been guarded around the clock — rain or shine — by a soldier from the US Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard," since 1948.

Hegseth and his staff were at the tomb as part of a larger ceremony commemorating Veterans Day that was also attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The incident comes less than a day after Hegseth narrowly survived an effort to impeach him by lawmakers in Congress on Tuesday afternoon.

The effort was led by Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats. However, while Hegseth's critics were not successful in Tuesday's vote, Republicans may have only delayed efforts to impeach the defense secretary.

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