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Hegseth awards medal to Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard who scolded his group

Specialist Thomas Iglesias received the Joint Service Commendation Medal at the Pentagon on Thursday, a day after he called out Hegseth's group at Arlington.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on November 11, 2026
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on November 11, 2026. Photo: usarmyband, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
32 news outlets reported this
Liberal15 outletsHegseth's gesture set against his political troublesCenter8 outletsThe award, tomb customs and Hegseth's impeachment fightConservative9 outletsHegseth honors the soldier who reprimanded him and his aides
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, Nov. 12, awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Army Specialist Thomas Iglesias. Iglesias is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sentinel who reprimanded Hegseth's group on Veterans Day, Wednesday. Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and senior aides had been taking photos at the tomb in Arlington National Cemetery.

Aides included Ricky Buria, chief of staff, Patrick Weaver, deputy chief of staff, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh. Some in the group were heard laughing and talking. Iglesias called out, "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times."

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later said the soldier had "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum." Hegseth hosted the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, at the Pentagon and posted photos on X with the words "We love soldiers. We love standards.

Well done, Specialist." The Pentagon said the medal was for the execution of his duties at the tomb on Nov. 11. The episode follows an attempt against Hegseth, led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, which he survived in a House vote on Tuesday.

Democrats have indicated they could pursue new articles in January, when they are set to control and .

Key figures
  • 11 Democratsmissed the impeachment vote, according to the Daily BeastThe Daily Beast

Three sides of the story

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32 news outlets reported this

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Liberal15 outlets

Hegseth's gesture set against his political troubles

The Independent opens with Hegseth giving the medal to the serviceman who reprimanded his entourage, quotes his X post and says CNN confirmed the award through a Pentagon official. It adds that the moment went viral, with users "blasting" the group. The Guardian notes the recognition came one day after the confrontation and that Trump, at the same ceremony, said Hegseth had done a "fantastic job."

The Boston Globe places the award against Hegseth's troubles: Republicans' losses, which many in the party blame at least in part on his actions in the Iran war, and the impeachment attempt he survived. It says Democrats could bring new articles in January. The Daily Beast's headline reads "Pentagon Pete Scrambles to Save Face After Humiliating Shushing."

It calls the award a "desperate measure" and says someone in his group, not Hegseth himself, laughed. It also says 11 Democrats missed the impeachment vote.

Center8 outlets

The award, tomb customs and Hegseth's impeachment fight

Military Times leads with Hegseth awarding the medal to an Army sentinel who chastised the secretary and his staff. It recalls the Pentagon's earlier statement that the soldier acted "correctly and respectfully," and adds that guards customarily reprimand visitors who break the rules on noise and decorum. The Seattle Times runs an AP report that ties the scolding to Hegseth's impeachment fight.

He survived the vote led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, and AP says the effort is likely to be renewed once Democrats take control of both chambers in January. It reports that Hegseth, at a Tuesday news conference, called the impeachment effort sabotage rather than patriotism. It also says the medal is not typically issued to junior enlisted service members.

The Hill reports that Hegseth awarded a "prestigious medal" to the sentinel and hosted the Old Guard at the Pentagon. Forbes reports that Hegseth honored the Army member who reminded his group, which included senior advisors and his wife, about laughing and talking at the memorial.

Conservative9 outlets

Hegseth honors the soldier who reprimanded him and his aides

Just the News leads with Hegseth giving a Joint Service Commendation Medal on Thursday to the soldier who had scolded him and his aides. It quotes his X post, placed under a photo of him pinning the award: "We love soldiers. We love standards.

Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots." Citing CNN, it says Hegseth invited the Old Guard, the 3rd Infantry Regiment, to the Pentagon, where Specialist Thomas Iglesias was honored for properly carrying out his duties.

The report describes Hegseth, his aides and his wife photographing in front of the tomb after Wednesday's Veterans Day ceremony. Some in the group were heard laughing and talking. Iglesias, who was patrolling there, paused, turned to them and said, "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times."

The report closes with Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who later said the soldier "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."

What a side did not mention
Where outlets disagree
All sources: 41 articles from 32 outlets

Liberal (23)

Center (8)

Conservative (10)

Related
  1. Hegseth vows not to back down as a Republican congressman plans impeachment push
  2. Hegseth lets National Guard troops in DC use military vehicles and boats
  3. Republican Rep. Massie files impeachment charges against Defense Secretary Hegseth over Iran war
  4. Army guard scolds Defense Secretary Hegseth's group after laughter near Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  5. Hegseth awards medal to Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard who scolded his groupThis story
Impeachment

A formal accusation against a top official, up to the president, voted by the House of Representatives. Only the Senate can then remove the official, with two-thirds of the votes.

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