Hegseth awards medal to soldier who reprimanded him at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The recognition came days after Hegseth survived a House impeachment vote

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given the Joint Service Commendation Medal to the Army specialist who reprimanded him and his staff at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Pentagon said.

On social media Thursday, Hegseth posted photos showing him pinning the award on Spc. Thomas Iglesias and shaking his hand. “We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist,” Hegseth wrote.

Hegseth welcomed to the Pentagon the Army unit that guards the tomb and awarded Iglesias the medal “for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026,” according to the Pentagon.

The reprimand came Wednesday, after Hegseth and a group of his staffers took photos at the site following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that included President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Iglesias reprimanded the group when a loud laugh was heard.

Video showed Hegseth taking photos on the 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.

The tomb is considered one of the most solemn and revered war memorials in the United States, the final resting place of unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. A soldier from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” has guarded it around the clock, rain or shine, since 1948.

The Joint Service Commendation Medal is considered one of the higher awards in the military and is not typically issued to junior enlisted service members.

Soon after video of the reprimand emerged, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, said Iglesias “correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”

The scolding drew attention once more to Hegseth, who had survived an impeachment attempt the day before. The effort was led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats, and Hegseth’s critics were not successful in Tuesday’s vote. Republicans may have only delayed a bid to impeach him: with Democrats set to take control of the House and Senate in January, the effort is likely to be renewed.

Hegseth rebuked the impeachment move on Tuesday in his first news conference in months, arguing that he had committed none of the high crimes required in the Constitution for his removal and framing the effort as an indictment against the nation’s service members and their successes. “This is not patriotism,” Hegseth said. “This is sabotage.”