Army sentinel reprimands Hegseth and Pentagon staff at Arlington National Cemetery

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior Pentagon staff were publicly reprimanded by an Army sentinel at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday after laughter was heard near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Veterans Day visit. The soldier interrupted the group’s photo opportunity, calling out that all visitors must maintain “silence and respect” at the sacred memorial. CNN reported the group, accompanying President Trump and Vice President Vance, had been posing for photographs when the laughter prompted the rebuke. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors unidentified U.S. service members and is guarded continuously by the Army’s Old Guard. CNN said Hegseth’s office had not responded to a request for comment.