Pete Hegseth reprimanded by Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard after staff's laughter breaks silence
WASHINGTON, DC: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his team were verbally reprimanded by a soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, November 11. Video shows the group taking photographs near the memorial before a loud laugh prompted the guard to remind visitors to maintain silence and respect.
The incident drew criticism from Democrats, with Rep Gwen Moore questioning Hegseth's fitness for office. The Pentagon, however, defended the interaction, saying the soldier had correctly reminded everyone to maintain decorum.
A Tomb Guard from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard” was forced to verbally reprimand Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and a group of his senior advisers Wednesday after some in the group laughed and loudly talked in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. Video of the incident, posted by CNN, shows Hegseth standing and taking photos in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver as well as senior adviser and deputy assistant Tami Radabaugh, following a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for Veterans Day.
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 11, 2026
Pete Hegseth's team reminded to maintain silence at Arlington cemetery
Video of the incident shows Hegseth posing for photographs 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 finished taking pictures, a loud laugh could be heard. The soldier guarding the memorial then shouted, "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times."
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the interaction, saying, "While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."
He added, "The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored — and will always honor — the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe."
Gwen Moore questions Pete Hegseth's fitness for office
The incident quickly drew criticism from Democrats, particularly because it happened just a day after Hegseth narrowly survived an impeachment effort in Congress.
Rep Gwen Moore, D-Wis., accused the defense secretary of showing a lack of respect for military personnel and the memorial.
She said Hegseth had demonstrated "his utter lack of fitness for his office."
"One day after narrowly avoiding impeachment, he shows his contempt for our men and women in uniform by disrespecting the sanctity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," Moore wrote in a social media post.
The impeachment effort was led by Rep Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and backed by Democrats. Hegseth rejected the allegations during his first news conference in months on Tuesday.
"On the eve of Veterans Day, these resolutions tell every one of them that their service was a crime," he said, adding, "This is not patriotism. This is sabotage."
Why the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier holds special significance
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most revered military memorials in the United States. It is the final resting place of unidentified American service members from World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
The memorial has been guarded around the clock, rain or shine, by soldiers from the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, since 1948.
Hegseth and his team visited the tomb as part of the larger Veterans Day ceremony attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
The incident also brought back memories of a previous controversy involving Trump's team at Arlington.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, a campaign staffer reportedly shoved a cemetery employee who tried to prevent two people from filming and photographing a ceremony honoring US troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Trump later shared a TikTok video from the cemetery, blaming the Biden administration for the "disaster" of the Afghanistan withdrawal. US law prohibits campaign or election-related activities inside national military cemeteries.
