Trump defends Hegseth as impeachment effort fails on Capitol Hill
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his team were admonished by an Army guard at Arlington National Cemetery after they appeared to violate the war memorial’s rules for decorum during a Veterans Day observance, according to video of the event.
The video shows Hegseth, his wife and senior advisers laughing and talking while posing for photos in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Army sentinel on duty then stepped toward Hegseth and his group and yelled: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
Rules on etiquette at the cemetery dictate that visitors speak quietly and do not engage in disrespectful or disorderly conduct. The tomb, one of the country’s most sacred war memorials, marks the final resting place of an unknown soldier killed in World War I. A service member from the 3rd Infantry Regiment has stood watch over the site 24 hours a day since 1948.
“While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. “The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored—and will always honor—the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe.”
Earlier, President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and other top officials attended the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery. Photographs from the ceremony showed Hegseth and First Lady Melania Trump bowing their heads in prayer.
During his speech at the ceremony, Trump offered his gratitude to uniformed service members who have fought for the country. He also touted what he sees as his administration’s success in the Iran war. “Under this administration, and it was about time, somebody fought back. All of us fought back,” Trump said.
“And we won,” Trump said of the Iran war. “It’s just a question of when we want to end it. We want to make sure we have a total victory, not a 93% victory.”
Trump also pointed out Hegseth during the ceremony, saying he has done a “fantastic job” as defense secretary.
Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth amid Democratic lawmakers’ push to impeach him. On Tuesday, an effort to impeach the defense secretary under accusations that he waged war on Iran without congressional authorization failed on Capitol Hill. Hegseth has called the impeachment efforts a “farce” and a “stunt.”