WASHINGTON — A U.S. Army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Solider scolded Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and his senior advisers for not being respectful after some members in the group laughed while posing for pictures in front of the memorial.
"All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all time," the sentinel yelled, prompting Hegseth and other members of the group to turn around as they were walking away from the memorial. The incident, which was captured by television cameras, took place after a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
In addition to Hegseth, the group admonished by the sentinel included his chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver, senior adviser Tami Radabaugh
and Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Hegseth. It was not clear which members of the group were laughing.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Tomb of the Unknown Solider is the burial site of an unidentifiable solider who was killed in World War I. It is a revered war memorial and guarded by a sentinel at all hours and in all weather.
Hegseth visited the tomb after the Veterans Day ceremony, which was attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Trump praised Hegseth in a speech at the event, saying that the Pentagon chief had done a "fantastic job" in his role.
The incident puts Hegseth back in the spotlight a day after House Republicans banded together to squash an effort to impeach Hegseth. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, introduced articles of impeachment against the Pentagon chief for conducting overseas military operations, including the war in Iran, without congressional approval.
Trump had repeatedly backed Hegseth even as some Republicans urged the president to fire him and install a new leader at the Pentagon before Democrats regain control of Congress in January.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Guard scolds Hegseth, advisers for laughing at Tomb of Unknown Soldier
