US Soldier Reprimands Defense Secretary for Laughter at Arlington Memorial

A US soldier on patrol shouted at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his party for talking and laughing near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. The soldier interrupted his patrol to enforce the required silence at the memorial. The soldier loudly ordered the group to maintain silence and a respectful atmosphere. Hegseth was posing for photos with his wife, chief of staff, and advisors when some members began chatting and laughing. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier acted correctly, and the minister respects the sacrifices of US troops. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded 24/7 since 1948, is a key war memorial. Separately, outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie has initiated impeachment proceedings against Hegseth, accusing him of unlawful orders and unauthorized war in Iran, though a procedural vote blocked the effort.