A sentinel responsible for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier publicly urged the group accompanying the high-ranking official to maintain silence and respect. The reprimand from the guard occurred moments after several members of the entourage laughed and held loud conversations near the memorial after posing for official photographs.
According to footage recorded and broadcast by CNN, the sentinel's warning was direct and emphatic in response to the relaxed attitude of the attendees. "All visitors must maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times," shouted the soldier in front of the grave honoring American combatants who fell in battle and whose remains could not be identified. Hegseth had posed smiling with his wife, Jennifer, his chief of staff, Ricky Buria, the deputy chief of staff, Patrick Weaver, and senior advisor Tami Radabaugh, after the official ceremony led by President Donald Trump.
In light of the media uproar caused by the footage, the Department of Defense has clarified the actions of the guard. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told CNN that "the soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum." He also emphasized the institutional position of the Cabinet, adding that "the Secretary and the entire Department have always honored—and will continue to honor—the sacrifices our military has made to keep the United States safe."
This episode at the Arlington Cemetery occurs amid a political storm surrounding Pete Hegseth in Washington. Just a day before the incident, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives managed to halt an initiative aimed at subjecting the Secretary of Defense to impeachment. The parliamentary opposition's maneuver sought to hold him accountable for military decisions in the Iran war and for the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. However, the new Democratic majority resulting from the legislative elections on November 3 has already indicated its intention to resume the sanctioning process starting in January, when the new Congress will formally convene.
Despite the criticism from parliamentary ranks and the uproar caused by the sentinel's reprimand at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the White House maintains its strong support for Hegseth's leadership of the military department. During his remarks on Veterans Day, President Donald Trump reiterated his firm backing for the Secretary of War, publicly stating that Hegseth has done "a fantastic job."