A US Army sentinel appeared to rebuke Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's delegation at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Wednesday, after laughter was heard as members of the group climbed the memorial's steps. Video of the encounter showed the guard approaching the group before calling out a reminder about conduct at the site.
Hegseth was visiting the memorial at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife and senior aides following a Veterans Day event. Members of the delegation could be seen posing for photographs and talking among themselves on the steps. The sentinel's intervention came immediately after the sound of laughter, though the account did not identify who had laughed.
Addressing the visitors from a distance, the sentinel shouted: "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." The incident, first reported by CNN, prompted a response from the Pentagon about both the delegation's visit and the soldier's reminder.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that Hegseth and the Defense Department had always honored the sacrifices of military personnel and would continue to do so. He also endorsed the way the guard handled the moment, saying: "While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."
The tomb occupies a central place at Arlington National Cemetery and holds the remains of three unidentified American service members, including one who served in World War One. Regarded as a sacred place for mourning and reflection on military service, the memorial is guarded by sentinels around the clock.
The visit came during a week in which Hegseth survived an impeachment attempt. The House of Representatives rejected an effort by a Republican lawmaker to impeach the defense secretary, a former Army National Guard soldier who served in Iraq.
At an uncommon Pentagon press conference on Tuesday, held hours before the House vote, Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a farce and defended his record. That record includes advocating for the unpopular Iran war, ordering strikes against suspected drug vessels in Latin American waters and dismissing senior military officers.
Further congressional scrutiny remains possible. Democrats, who secured control of both chambers of Congress last week, have pledged to investigate Hegseth's management of the US military. They have also left open the possibility of pursuing another impeachment effort.
