A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier issued a verbal reprimand to a group of advisers and staff with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Video shows Hegseth taking photos on the empty steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.
As the group broke from taking photos, a loud laugh could be heard, and the soldier...
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Hegseth and staff scolded by guard after laughter heard at Tomb of the Unknown SoldierThe US defence chief, his wife and advisers had been taking photos in front of the revered war memorial when they were reminded to be silentPublished: 6:40am, 12 Nov 2026A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier issued a verbal reprimand to a group of advisers and staff with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Video shows Hegseth taking photos on the empty steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh. As the group broke from taking photos, a loud laugh could be heard, and the soldier guarding the tomb shouted that “all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times”.