US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his aides were publicly reprimanded by an Army sentinel for laughing and talking loudly near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after a Veterans Day ceremony, drawing significant criticism and highlighting decorum issues at the sacred site.
On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his senior staff, including his wife Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh, were sternly reprimanded by an Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Following a Veterans Day ceremony, a laugh from Hegseth's group was audible near the memorial, prompting the guard to loudly declare, "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." Hegseth briefly acknowledged the soldier but continued walking. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell affirmed the soldier's actions, stating they "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum." The incident sparked strong condemnation from former GOP congressman Adam Kinzinger, who labeled Hegseth's conduct "truly abhorrent" and "unbecoming of any visitor," further asserting Hegseth was "completely unqualified for the job." Kinzinger praised the sentinel for enforcing the rules, even against a high-ranking official, emphasizing the sanctity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, a revered war memorial guarded 24/7 since 1948. This event occurred just a day after Hegseth narrowly avoided impeachment efforts by House Republicans over allegations of constitutional violations concerning his handling of foreign conflicts.
