A US Army sentinel appeared to reprimand Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his delegation after laughter and conversation were heard during their visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day.
A video of the incident on Wednesday showed Hegseth, his wife and senior aides taking photographs and talking on the steps of the memorial. Shortly after laughter was heard, the uniformed guard turned towards the group and called out: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
The incident attracted attention because the tomb is one of the most solemn military memorials in the United States, where visitors are expected to maintain silence and show respect for fallen service members.
Pentagon Defends Hegseth’s Conduct
The Pentagon responded to the incident after it was reported by CNN.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth and the Department of Defence had always honoured the sacrifices made by American military personnel and would continue to do so.
He also defended the sentinel’s intervention, saying the soldier had correctly and respectfully reminded visitors to maintain proper decorum during the commemorative occasion.
The video showed the guard delivering the reminder from a distance as Hegseth’s group moved around the memorial. The footage did not establish that the secretary personally laughed or deliberately ignored the site’s rules.
Why the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Is Significant
Located at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier serves as the final resting place of unidentified American service members who died in different wars.
The memorial includes remains representing the First World War, Second World War and Korean War. It is guarded around the clock by soldiers from the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, widely known as the Old Guard.
The sentinels maintain a continuous watch over the tomb, regardless of weather conditions. Their duties include ensuring that visitors observe the rules of the memorial and preserve its atmosphere of respect and remembrance.
The guard’s reminder to Hegseth’s delegation was therefore consistent with the responsibilities associated with protecting the site.
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Incident Comes Amid Political Pressure on Hegseth
The episode occurred as Hegseth faces growing political scrutiny over his leadership of the US military.
A day earlier, the House of Representatives rejected an effort to advance impeachment proceedings against him. The initiative was led by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and supported by Democrats, who have criticised Hegseth over his handling of military operations and other decisions at the Pentagon.
Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a political farce during a rare news conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday. However, Democrats have indicated that they intend to investigate his leadership further and have not ruled out renewed impeachment efforts.
The Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington was also attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who participated in commemorations honouring fallen American service members.
The incident involving the sentinel has added another public controversy to Hegseth’s already challenging tenure, although the Pentagon has maintained that the guard’s reminder was appropriate and respectful.
Source: The Express Tribune, Reuters, Associated Press.
