U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today decorated the soldier who, on the eve, rebuked him harshly as the Pentagon leader and his companions laughed loudly near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington.
© Pete Hegseth
12/11/2026
by
Lusa
O u.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, decorated today the soldier who, on the eve, scolded him harshly as the Pentagon leader and his companions laughed loudly near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington.
Hegseth “proudly handed over to Private Thomas Iglesias” the medal “for the fulfilment of his duty in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on November 11, 2026”, provided a source of the Department of Defense cited by the agency France-Presse (AFP).
Pete Hegseth himself published on social network X images that show him fixing the decoration on the soldier's chest.
“ We love soldiers, we love principles. All right, soldier ", wrote.
The incident in question occurred on Wednesday, the day when the veterans of war in the United States are honored.
In front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, the Secretary of Defense and his companions were seen laughing and talking.
The guard soldier then shouted: “All visitors must maintain a silent and respectful attitude at all times.”.
Hegseth had posed before the tomb with his wife, Jennifer; his chief of staff, Ricky Buria; deputy chief of staff, Patrick Weaver; and assistant chief and assistant Tami Radabaugh.
This tomb, of national importance, is kept permanently by hand-selected soldiers.
The episode took place at a delicate moment for Pete Hegseth, who has been in the background since the Republican defeat in the mid-term elections on November 3.
On the night of Tuesday, however, he was benefited by a vote in the House of Representatives (low House of Congress) which ended, right at the beginning, a process of dismissal that had been opened against him.