Hegseth and aides scolded by guard for laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A laugh is audible, prompting the guard to yell: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.” Hegseth looked over his shoulder in the direction of the soldier as he continued walking up the steps.
Key points
- A Pentagon spokesman said the sentinel had “reminded everyone to maintain decorum” after laughter was heard from a group visiting the burial site with the Defense Secretary on Wednesday.
According to video captured by the TV network pool, Hegseth was with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser and deputy assistant Tami Radabaugh walking up the steps in front of the memorial after posing for pictures.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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Every article behind this summary — 3 articles from 3 outlets
NYT PoliticsNovember 12, 2026, 12:04 AM UTC →
The Guardian WorldNovember 11, 2026, 11:00 PM UTC →
BBC NewsNovember 11, 2026, 9:43 PM UTC →
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