Pete Hegseth honors soldier who scolded him at Arlington cemetery

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recognized a soldier who confronted him at Arlington Cemetery for laughing and talking while taking photos near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Hegseth presented Specialist Thomas Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal, a prestigious award typically not given to junior enlisted personnel.

In a viral video, Iglesias angrily warned Hegseth and his entourage to maintain a respectful atmosphere at the site. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell commended Iglesias for appropriately enforcing the rules. This incident occurred in the same week that Hegseth narrowly avoided an impeachment attempt over his management of the Iran conflict, which contributed to recent Republican Party losses in the midterm elections.

Hegseth dismissed the impeachment attempt as a "farce, a stunt, and sabotage" during his first press conference in months. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is one of the most solemn military monuments in the US, housing the remains of soldiers who died in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, as well as an empty grave for missing soldiers from the Vietnam War.

Since 1948, the site has been guarded continuously by members of the US Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard."