United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a public reprimand from an Army sentinel during a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Wednesday, as reported by Al Jazeera. A video circulating online captures the guard yelling at Hegseth and his staff after the group began laughing while taking photos at the memorial site. The sentinel shouted, “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” to address the commotion.
This incident occurred at Arlington National Cemetery, which serves as a final resting place for unidentified soldiers from World War I and later conflicts. A member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, maintains a constant watch over the tomb around the clock. The interaction took place on Veterans Day, a timing that adds weight to the breach of decorum.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell addressed the situation in a statement, noting that the sentinel acted correctly. He also defended the Secretary regarding his attitude toward the military. Parnell said, “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,” in his remarks.
This visit comes during a period of intense scrutiny for Hegseth
Hegseth’s tenure has seen significant controversy, including accusations that he oversaw unlawful military actions. One major point of contention involves the US-Israel war on Iran, which Hegseth allegedly spearheaded without obtaining authorization from Congress. This conflict became a primary issue during the November 3 midterm elections, where the Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress.
Legal experts have also raised concerns about a campaign of strikes targeting boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, which Hegseth championed. These actions have been labeled as “extrajudicial killings” by various scholars. Beyond these operations, critics argue that Hegseth weakened existing rules that were intended to reduce civilian casualties during US strikes.
His time as defense secretary has also been defined by a focus on right-wing culture war topics. Hegseth pushed to ban transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces and introduced mandatory testosterone testing for male soldiers. These policy shifts have often drawn vocal opposition from his critics.
The pressure on the Secretary reached a peak on Tuesday when the US House of Representatives considered articles of impeachment against him. Hegseth narrowly avoided a formal vote on these articles after Republican lawmakers united to block the effort.
Published: Nov 12, 2026 05:00 am