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Hegseth and aides scolded by guard for laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
Newly added reporting highlights that former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger condemned Pete Hegseth’s conduct at Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, calling it “truly abhorrent” and praising the sentinel for enforcing the rules. The incident drew attention because Hegseth is the US defence secretary and the memorial is a solemn site honouring an unknown soldier killed in the First World War.
Video captured a laugh as Hegseth, his wife and aides walked near the tomb after a Veterans Day ceremony, prompting a sentinel to call out that visitors must maintain silence and respect. A Pentagon spokesman said the reminder was appropriate and that the department honours military sacrifices. Sentinels have guarded the tomb around the clock since 1948 and address noisy visitors roughly two or three times a day; the incident came a day after House Republicans rejected an effort to impeach Hegseth by 211 votes to 204.
- Sources
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- Outlets
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- Left · Centre · Right
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In short
- Kinzinger criticised Hegseth’s conduct at Arlington.
- A sentinel reminded the group to keep silence and respect.
- The impeachment effort against Hegseth had failed the day before.
How this story developed
- 6 minutes ago A US Army sentinel at Arlington National Cemetery reprimanded Pete Hegseth and members of his party after laughter was heard near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following a Veterans Day ceremony.
- 11 minutes ago Newly added reporting highlights that former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger condemned Pete Hegseth’s conduct at Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, calling it “truly abhorrent” and praising the sentinel for enforcing the rules.
- Fox News Army sentinel sharply reprimands Hegseth's group at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day
- The Guardian Hegseth and aides scolded by guard for laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- New York Post Army guard scolds Pentagon officials, including Pete Hegseth, heard laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: aides, scolded
Right-leaning outlets 2
- Army sentinel sharply reprimands Hegseth's group at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans DayFox News
- Army guard scolds Pentagon officials, including Pete Hegseth, heard laughing at Tomb of the Unknown SoldierNew York Post
Only here: army, sentinel, sharply, reprimands, group
Every side used: hegseth, guard, laughing, tomb, unknown, soldier
Headline columns compared word for word; nothing in them is AI-written.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The sentinel was right to enforce the memorial’s rules: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honours those who died in service, and visitors, especially senior officials, should model the silence and respect the site requires. A visible reminder helps preserve the dignity of a place where sentinels routinely address noisy visitors.
The case against
A brief laugh does not by itself establish deliberate disrespect, and the video may not show what prompted it or the visitors’ intent. The rules can be enforced without treating an ambiguous moment as proof of contempt, particularly when the department affirmed the memorial’s importance and the sentinel’s reminder was accepted.
Coverage · 3 sources
Bias meters
From 3 rated sources.
- The GuardianLeftHegseth and aides scolded by guard for laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Fox NewsRightArmy sentinel sharply reprimands Hegseth's group at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day
- New York PostRightArmy guard scolds Pentagon officials, including Pete Hegseth, heard laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier