A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery called for silence and respect after laughter was heard as U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s group finished taking photographs following a Veterans Day ceremony.

Video shows Hegseth posing on 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, according to CBC reporting credited to The Associated Press.

As the group broke from the photographs, a loud laugh could be heard. The soldier guarding the memorial then shouted that “all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.” The reporting did not identify who laughed.

The Pentagon acknowledged the reminder and defended the department’s commitment to honouring military service.

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

“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,” Parnell added.

Hegseth and his staff were attending a larger Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that also included President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance.

The tomb is the final resting place of unidentified soldiers from the First World War, Second World War and Korean War. Soldiers from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” have guarded it around the clock, in all weather, since 1948, CBC reported.

Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore criticized Hegseth after the incident, saying in a social media post that he had disrespected the memorial’s sanctity and demonstrated “his utter lack of fitness for his office.” Her criticism followed an unsuccessful congressional effort to impeach Hegseth the previous day.

Sources