Army sentinel sharply reprimands Hegseth's group at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day
An Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery called for silence and respect Wednesday after laughter was heard from departing members of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's entourage following a Veterans Day ceremony.Video shows the incident unfolding shortly after President Donald Trump left the memorial following a wreath-laying ceremony.Trump left the memorial around 12:28 p.m.Hegseth and members of his entourage, including his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, began taking photos and posing on the memorial steps around 12:29 p.m., according to the video.TRUMP UNLOADS ON AOC, MAMDANI FOR LAUGHING DURING SACRED 9/11 CEREMONY AT GROUND ZEROSecretary of War Pete Hegseth, second from left, and first lady Melania Trump bow their heads in prayer during a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Nov.
11, 2026.(Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)Roughly a minute later, laughter could be heard in the distance as members of the group departed, prompting a soldier guarding the tomb to issue a sharp reminder to those gathered."All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times," the soldier said.The instruction came around 12:30 p.m., after Trump had left the ceremony.TRAVELERS UNITE IN POWERFUL MOMENT OF SILENCE AS FALLEN US SERVICE MEMBER RETURNS HOMESecretary of War Pete Hegseth, joined by his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.
Dan Caine, left, participates in a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Nov.11, 2026.
(Mandel Ngan/ AFP via Getty Images)Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded to the incident in a statement to Fox News, emphasizing the department's commitment to honoring fallen service members."The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored—and will always honor—the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe," Parnell sa...