US defence chief honours soldier who reprimanded him at Arlington cemetery

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has awarded a military honour to a soldier who publicly reprimanded him and his entourage for laughing loudly during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

The incident took place last Wednesday when Hegseth visited the cemetery, accompanied by his wife and advisers, to pay tribute to unidentified fallen service members.

After the ceremony, Hegseth and his group were heard laughing loudly, prompting Army guard Thomas Iglesias to remind them to maintain silence at the memorial site.

A video of the exchange went viral on social media, showing Iglesias firmly telling the visitors that everyone entering the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier must remain silent throughout their visit.

The US Department of Defence later announced on X that Iglesias had received a military honour for properly carrying out his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The award comes after the guard's public reprimand of the defence secretary and his entourage drew widespread attention online.

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