On Veterans Day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team were reprimanded by an Army guard at the Arlington National Cemetery after they reportedly violated decorum rules at the solemn war memorial. A video from the event shows Hegseth, his wife, and senior advisers laughing and talking while taking photos in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Army sentinel on duty then approached Hegseth's group, yelling for visitors to maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.
The rules at Arlington National Cemetery dictate that visitors speak quietly and avoid disrespectful or disorderly conduct. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a sacred war memorial marking the final resting place of an unknown soldier who was killed in World War I, is guarded by a service member from the 3rd Infantry Regiment 24 hours a day since 1948. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the soldier's reminder to maintain decorum during the solemn observance was both correct and respectful.
Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and other top officials attended the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery. During his speech at the ceremony, Trump expressed gratitude to uniformed service members who have fought for the country and touted what he sees as his administration's success in the Iran war. He claimed that under his leadership, "somebody finally fought back," and they won.
The impeachment of Defense Secretary Hegseth over accusations that he waged war on Iran without congressional authorization failed on Capitol Hill earlier this week. Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth against calls for his impeachment by Democratic lawmakers, who have labeled the effort a "farce" and a "stunt."
During a solemn Veterans Day observance at the Arlington National Cemetery, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team were reprimanded by an Army guard for violating decorum rules at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guard reportedly yelled for all visitors to maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect after witnessing Hegseth's group laughing and talking while taking photos in front of the sacred war memorial.
The Arlington National Cemetery has specific rules that require visitors to speak quietly and avoid disrespectful or disorderly conduct during their visit. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbol of national sacrifice, was established in 1948 and is guarded by a service member from the 3rd Infantry Regiment 24 hours a day.
At an earlier ceremony, President Donald Trump and other top officials attended the annual wreath-laying event at the cemetery. In his speech, Trump expressed gratitude to uniformed service members and claimed that his administration's success in the Iran war demonstrated that "somebody finally fought back."
The impeachment of Defense Secretary Hegseth over allegations that he waged war on Iran without congressional authorization failed on Capitol Hill earlier this week. Trump has defended Hegseth against calls for his impeachment, labeling the effort as a "farce" and a "stunt."
During the solemn Veterans Day observance at the Arlington National Cemetery, an Army guard reminded U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team to maintain silence and respect after witnessing them violate decorum rules at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guard reportedly approached the group, who were laughing and talking while taking photos in front of the sacred war memorial.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbol of national sacrifice, is guarded by a service member from the 3rd Infantry Regiment 24 hours a day since 1948. The rules at Arlington National Cemetery dictate that visitors speak quietly and avoid disrespectful or disorderly conduct.
At an earlier ceremony, President Donald Trump and other top officials attended the annual wreath-laying event at the cemetery. In his speech, Trump expressed gratitude to uniformed service members and touted what he sees as his administration's success in the Iran war. He claimed that under his leadership, "somebody finally fought back."
The impeachment of Defense Secretary Hegseth over allegations that he waged war on Iran without congressional authorization failed on Capitol Hill earlier this week. Trump has defended Hegseth against calls for his impeachment, labeling the effort as a "farce" and a "stunt."