On Wednesday, a video of a soldier on guard went viral on social media, shouting at his boss, the Secretary of Defense of the United States, for laughing and taking selfies next to the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery, near Washington.
The images show Hegseth on the empty steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, his chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver, and senior advisor Tami Radabaugh. While the group was joking and laughing, the powerful voice of the soldier guarding the tomb was heard shouting: "all visitors must maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times". The symbolism, precisely on the day the U.S. honors war veterans, was tremendous.
The incident, under different circumstances, could have been just an anecdote. But it came just hours after Hegseth, likely the most scrutinized member of Donald Trump's administration and ultimately responsible for the war in Iran, narrowly escaped an impeachment attempt, a political trial in Congress that could have led to his removal.
The Secretary of Defense is responsible for the war in Iran, for attacks on boats in the Caribbean that have left over 240 dead without explanation in the past year, for purges of admirals and generals, and for blocking women and African Americans from promotions. He has expelled the press from Pentagon facilities, replacing them with friendly media, content creators, and people willing to sign a document committing not to publish anything that hasn't received official approval. He has even made his wife an advisor with unclear responsibilities at the Pentagon, after firing his former chief of staff and other high-ranking officials.
Aware of his bad press, Hegseth has reacted quickly this time by awarding the soldier who called him out. "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, specialist. Keep it up, patriots", he wrote on social media alongside images of him presenting a medal to sentinel Iglesias.
A Pentagon official confirmed to CNN that Hegseth received several members of the Third Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, at the Pentagon, "where he proudly awarded Specialist Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026."
The sentinels are the guardians of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument in Arlington National Cemetery that honors unidentified American military personnel who died in the wars of their country. All belong to the aforementioned Third Infantry Regiment of the United States, also known as The Old Guard, which is based at nearby Fort Myer. It is the oldest active infantry unit in the Army and has been responsible for guarding the Tomb since 1948, and that ceremonial position is one of the most prestigious in the military. The soldiers are volunteers and undergo a rigorous selection process and specialized training.