Hegseth and staff scolded by guard at U.S. military tomb

A brief burst of laughter at one of America’s most sacred military sites prompted an immediate reminder about decorum, as a soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier verbally reprimanded a group traveling with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Video of the moment shows Mr Hegseth posing for photos on the empty steps in front of the tomb alongside his wife Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.

As the group finished taking pictures and began to move away, a loud laugh is audible. The sentinel on duty then called out that “all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times”.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, backed the guard’s response, saying that “while commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum”.

US Army Sentinel reprimands Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his staff

“The secretary and the entire department have always honoured – and will always honour – the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe,” he added.

Widely regarded as among the nation’s most solemn and revered war memorials, the tomb holds the remains of unidentified soldiers from the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

The site has been protected continuously since 1948, with a soldier from the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment — known as The Old Guard — standing watch 24 hours a day, in all weather.

Mr Hegseth and his aides visited the tomb as part of a broader Veterans Day commemoration that also drew US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The episode unfolded less than a day after Mr Hegseth narrowly survived an effort to impeach him by legislators in Congress yesterday afternoon.

The push was led by Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie and supported by Democrats.

US President Donald Trump participates lays a wreath in honour of Veterans Day

Although Mr Hegseth’s opponents fell short in yesterday’s vote, Republicans may have only postponed another attempt to remove the defence secretary.

Democrats are set to take control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in January, a shift that is expected to revive impeachment efforts.

In his first news conference in months, Mr Hegseth condemned the move, casting Mr Massie as a rogue legislator and insisting he had committed none of the high crimes the constitution requires for removal.

Central to his defence was his contention that complaints about his leadership and his stewardship of the US military amounted to an attack on the country’s service members and their achievements.

“On the eve of Veterans Day, these resolutions tell every one of them that their service was a crime,” Mr Hegseth said.

“This is not patriotism. This is sabotage,” he argued.

Democrats responded quickly.

Shortly after the incident, Representative Gwen Moore, a Democrat from Wisconsin, said it illustrated that Mr Hegseth is demonstrating “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,” she wrote in a social media post.