Rep. Cohen calls Hegseth 'a clown' after Tomb of Unknown Soldier incident

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received a blunt two-word rebuke from Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who represents the district where Hegseth resides, following a Veterans Day incident at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Cohen criticized Hegseth after the secretary was admonished by an Army sentinel for laughing while walking away from the memorial on Wednesday. Cohen called Hegseth "a clown" and said his appointment was "an embarrassment to the troops," adding that the sentinel who enforced silence was "a hero." Hegseth later awarded Specialist Thomas Iglesias a Joint Service Commendation Medal, while Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the sentinel's actions as a correct reminder to maintain decorum.