Hegseth honors soldier who called for silence during cemetery visit

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a military medal on Thursday to the soldier who demanded silence from visitors after someone in the secretary's group laughed loudly at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The presentation followed criticism of the group's conduct during a Veterans Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

Hegseth invited Spc. Thomas Iglesias to the Pentagon and presented him with the Joint Service Commendation Medal. The award recognized Iglesias for carrying out his duties at the tomb on November 11, 2026, the date of the incident that had circulated widely on social media.

The encounter took place Wednesday when Hegseth, accompanied by his wife and staff members, visited the memorial outside Washington, D.C., to lay a wreath for Veterans Day. A loud laugh from someone in the party prompted Iglesias, the sentinel on duty, to call out a reminder of the conduct expected at the site.

“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!” the soldier shouted. Video of the exchange spread online and prompted a wave of criticism directed at Hegseth and those accompanying him. Some social media users responded by calling him “the secretary of offense.”

Among those criticizing the visit were Rep. Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat, and former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger. In a post on X, Moore questioned Hegseth's fitness to lead the Defense Department and accused him of disrespecting the military by failing to honor the solemnity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The controversy came during a difficult political week for Hegseth following Republican losses in the midterm elections. His support for the Iran war, which was unpopular with voters, had fueled speculation that he could be the first administration official to be dismissed. He also faced an impeachment resolution sponsored by a member of his own party, Rep. Thomas Massie.

That effort failed the day before the cemetery visit, with every House Republican except Massie voting against the resolution. On Thursday, Hegseth used the medal presentation to publicly praise the soldier at the center of the latest controversy. “We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist,” he wrote, adding: “Carry on Patriots.”