Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a group of his advisers and staffers were verbally reprimanded by an Army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The incident occurred following a Veterans Day ceremony, during which the soldier scolded the group for making noise and called for the Pentagon chief and his party to maintain decorum.
Video of the encounter sparked a furious backlash from critics, who expressed incredulity that a defense secretary would behave disrespectfully at one of the nation's most sacred memorials.
On Thursday, Secretary Hegseth awarded a medal and a top commendation to the service member who reprimanded him and his guests. Hegseth commended the soldier for the action taken to ensure decorum at the cemetery.