Hegseth Scolded for Behavior at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was publicly scolded by an Army sentinel for disrespectful behavior during a Veterans Day event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with a viral video showing him and his group chatting, laughing, and posing for photos. The incident occurred Wednesday, November 11, at Arlington National Cemetery moments after a commemoration ceremony where President Donald Trump laid a wreath. A soldier loudly reminded the group to maintain silence and respect, prompting Hegseth to look back before continuing with his party. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth and staff "have always honored" service member sacrifices. The reprimand follows a week of controversy for Hegseth, including impeachment articles introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie over military action in Iran, which House Republicans tabled. He also faced criticism from Vice President JD Vance over the war's political fallout, though Hegseth insisted he respects Vance and avoids finger-pointing.