US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his party were loudly reminded to maintain silence and respect at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day after a group gathered to take photographs and were heard laughing and chatting near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Video of the incident, which circulated widely on US television networks and social media, showed a US Army sentinel reprimanding the group on Wednesday, November 11, following a Veterans Day ceremony attended by President Donald Trump. "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!" the sentinel shouted, as laughter and conversation could be heard before the group was addressed.
The incident took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the most solemn memorials in the United States. The monument honours unidentified American service members who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.
It also contains an empty crypt commemorating missing service members from the Vietnam War. CNN identified those accompanying Hegseth as his wife, Jennifer; chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.
The group was reportedly taking photographs on the steps near the tomb. The Pentagon defended Hegseth's conduct, saying the department had always honoured the sacrifices of US service members.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told NBC News that Hegseth and the department "have always honoured" the sacrifices of the military. "While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum," Parnell said.
Democrats criticised the defence secretary over the incident, linking it to a wider dispute over his conduct and leadership at the Pentagon. Their reaction came a day after Hegseth narrowly survived an impeachment effort in the Republican-led House of Representatives.
"Pete Hegseth continues to demonstrate his utter lack of fitness for his office. One day after narrowly avoiding impeachment, he shows his contempt for our men and women in uniform by disrespecting the sanctity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin wrote on X.
Political analysts and commentators across major news outlets continued to debate the implications of the incident for the administration's broader policy and military oversight agenda moving forward.