Hegseth’s Team Rebuked for Laughing at Arlington Tomb on Veterans Day
WHO:
CNN - Outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
CNN - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior advisers Ricky Buria, chief of staff; Patrick Weaver, deputy chief of staff; and Tami Radabaugh, senior adviser and deputy assistant, were among the group reprimanded.
CNN - Hegseth was with his wife, Jennifer. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also attended the Veterans Day ceremony.
TMZ - A U.S. Army Sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimanded Hegseth and his entourage.
Rolling Stone Politics - A sentinel reprimanded the group after members laughed at the memorial.
Alternet - CNN anchors Boris Sanchez and Brianna Keilar and CNN correspondent Cohen discussed the incident on air.
WHAT:
CNN - In a procedural vote, Republicans blocked the impeachment process from moving forward; Hegseth and his allies described the outcome as vindication.
CNN - Massie accused Hegseth of executing unlawful orders, including waging war in Iran without congressional approval, disregarding laws intended to minimize civilian casualties, and directing the Pentagon to carry out extrajudicial killings. Hegseth said the allegations reflected a policy dispute, not high crimes and misdemeanors.
CNN - President Trump stood by Hegseth before the procedural vote and vowed to continue supporting him.
CNN - President Trump had faced criticism for filming a campaign video at Arlington National Cemetery in 2024.
CNN - After taking photos near the tomb, some members of Hegseth’s group laughed and chatted. The sentinel stopped his patrol, faced them, and called out: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
Alternet - The sentinel shouted: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect! At all times!”
CNN - The Pentagon was asked for comment.
Alternet - CNN’s Cohen said visitors who laugh at the tomb can similarly be reprimanded by the sentinel.
WHERE:
CNN - The incident followed a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
TMZ - The reprimand occurred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
WHEN:
CNN - The group was at the tomb after a Veterans Day ceremony.
Alternet - A soldier assigned to the Old Guard has guarded the tomb continuously, rain or shine, since 1948.
WHY:
CNN - The sentinel reprimanded the group after some members laughed and talked near the solemn memorial.
CNN - The tomb is the final resting place of an unknown soldier killed in World War I.
CNN - The tomb is guarded by a soldier assigned to the Old Guard, or 3rd Infantry Regiment, around the clock.
HOW:
CNN - Hegseth and his group stood for photos in front of the tomb; the sentinel interrupted his patrol to face them and issue the reminder.
CNN - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded around the clock, rain or shine, since 1948.
CNN - The ceremony was also attended by President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
(UPDATED November 11, 2026 23:00 UTC)
A sentinel reprimanded Pete Hegseth’s group after members laughed near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Representative Thomas Massie filed impeachment articles, but Republicans blocked the process. President Trump vowed continued support for Hegseth.
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(UPDATED November 11, 2026 22:02 UTC)
A Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sentinel reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s group after laughter. The group had taken photos after a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance also attended the ceremony.