Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was chastised Wednesday by an Army sentry guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier who asked him and his guests to maintain “atmospheric silence and respect.”
Hegseth, his wife Jen and some of the secretary’s top aides took photos, talked and laughed in front of the graveside, a memorial to unidentified service members killed in action located at Arlington National Cemetery. Hegseth was attending a Veterans Day ceremony where President Donald Trump laid a wreath in honor of fallen soldiers.
The incident puts the defense secretary’s name back in the headlines, just a day after he narrowly missed impeachment proceedings.
Hegseth and his wife were taking photos alongside some of the secretary’s top aides when the sentry shouted to the group: “All visitors will maintain silence and respect at all times.” »
Hegseth didn’t respond to the scolding, looking over his shoulder and continuing up the stairs.
Asked to comment on the interaction, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth and the department “have always honored” the sacrifices of service members.
“While commemorating this solemn day, a Soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” Parnell said in a statement.
Soldiers guard the tomb 24 hours a day, with an elaborate changing of the guard ceremony taking place at least once every hour.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a vocal critic of the Iran war who was ousted following a Trump-led effort, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth this week. The Republican-led House voted 211-204 to suspend the resolution. But Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is poised to become House speaker in January, signaled that Democrats would not slow down their efforts to oust Hegseth.
The defense secretary downplayed the efforts, calling them a “political spectacle.”
Trump has repeatedly expressed support for Hegseth and said he would support him even if he were impeached.
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