U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth appears to be further straying down a path of self-destruction. After narrowly avoiding impeachment efforts in the House of Representatives, he has not adopted a lower profile or reflected on past conduct—instead, he stirred up fresh controversy on October 11.
On November 11, during U.S. Veterans Day, Defense Secretary Hegseth and his entourage were photographed laughing loudly near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Their boisterous behavior and conspicuous laughter drew sharp rebuke from cemetery guards, who directly confronted them: “All visitors must remain quiet and respectful at all times!” Only after this reprimand did the group compose themselves.
The incident was reported by CNN and sparked widespread backlash within the United States, with mounting calls for Hegseth’s resignation growing increasingly intense.
Regarding this incident: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a site sanctified in American cultural memory as a symbol of military sacrifice and national reverence, became the backdrop for unseemly merriment by a senior defense official on a day dedicated to honoring veterans. The immediate, forceful correction by a cemetery guard delivered a stark indictment—revealing a contradiction at the heart of America’s dual narrative on patriotism. Civic solemnity is expected of ordinary citizens; yet those in power appear to treat even sacred spaces as mere backdrops for personal photo ops. What will follow now is a test of how the Trump administration will attempt to justify—or deflect responsibility for—this lapse in judgment.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881611403319296/
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