Guard reprimands Pete Hegseth and staff at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

An army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery reprimanded United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his delegation on Wednesday. Euronews, Al Jazeera, and the Guardian reported that the guard scolded the group after members of the entourage were heard laughing while taking photographs. The visit took place during Veterans Day events. [1][3][4][7]

Video footage published online shows Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, and several advisers posing for pictures on the steps in front of the memorial site, Euronews reported. As the group finished taking photographs, laughter was heard from the party. Al Jazeera and the Guardian reported that the sentinel turned toward the group and loudly ordered all visitors to maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times. [1][3][7]

Pete Hegseth is a former television personality and United States Army veteran who has served as the 29th United States secretary of defense since 2025. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is a national monument dedicated to unidentified service members killed in war. [12][14]

A spokesman for the Pentagon acknowledged the incident following the cemetery visit, Euronews reported. Multiple media outlets, including the BBC, CNN, and the Independent, also reported on the guard reprimanding Hegseth and his advisers. [1][5][8][9]