Army Sentinel Reprimands Group Around Hegseth After Laughter at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Photo: The HinduAn Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery loudly reprimanded a group accompanying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday after laughter was heard following a Veterans Day ceremony. "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times," the guard shouted, according to video of the incident. Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and aides including chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh had posed for photos on the steps in front of the tomb. This came after a wreath-laying that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended. Fox News video put Trump's departure at about 12:28 p.m., the photos at 12:29 and the reprimand around 12:30. CBS News said it is unclear who laughed or whether Hegseth made any noise. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to keep decorum, and that the department has always honored service members' sacrifices. Sentinels of the Third Infantry have guarded the tomb around the clock since 1948. Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins spoke afterward at the memorial amphitheater.
Right-leaning coverage diverges. Fox News headlines the sentinel's "sharp" reprimand and builds the story on a minute-by-minute timeline showing Trump had already left, and it includes Parnell's statement. Breitbart's article leads with Trump's wreath-laying, the salutes, Taps, and remarks by Trump and Vance honoring veterans, and the excerpt does not mention the reprimand. Left-leaning outlets center the incident. Rolling Stone frames it around Hegseth's celebratory mood after the House blocked his impeachment, citing CNN footage and saying his party "didn't get the memo." CBS News is more restrained, stressing the uncertainty over who laughed and quoting Parnell. Both sides report the same quote and Parnell's response; they differ on context, with Fox focusing on timing and Rolling Stone on politics. Alternative outlets largely match the factual accounts, with The Hindu naming more aides.
How the sides differ Right sources split between a timeline of the reprimand and Trump's ceremony; left sources stress the laughter, with one linking it to Hegseth's impeachment vote.
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