Official portrait of Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War, in a navy pinstripe suit and blue tie, in front of the US flag and the Department flag; AI-recomposed version. — **Archive portrait** · Photo: Chad J. McNeeley / Departamento de Defesa dos EUA, Domínio público (obra do governo dos EUA) · Image credits

**Archive portrait** · Photo: Chad J. McNeeley / Departamento de Defesa dos EUA, Domínio público (obra do governo dos EUA) · Image credits

Pete Hegseth awards medal to soldier who reprimanded him near Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Told by 14 newspapers in 10 countries, between 15:00 and 10:00 on 12 November 2026.

In this story

The headline in each newspaper

CBS NEWS: Pentagon reacts after Hegseth's party was reprimanded at Arlington over laughing near sacred tomb
EL MUNDO: Hegseth decorates the sentry who shouted at him for laughing beside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery
GEO NEWS: US soldier who told Pentagon chief to keep quiet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier gets medal from Hegseth

In short

Pete Hegseth awarded a medal to a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington who reprimanded him for laughing near the tomb.1 2 3 CBS News reports that the Pentagon reacted to the reprimand of Hegseth and his group.4 El Universal reports that Hegseth told the soldier "well done", according to the same report.5

AIMade at 11:11, only from the headlines. Each number links to the source headline. How it is made

Compare the papers

What newspapers from several countries agree on, where the accounts differ and who is involved, so each reader can draw their own conclusions.

Common ground

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, awarded a medal to a soldier who reprimanded him and a group near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery.1 2 3 +1013 newspapers from 9 countries
According to the headlines, the soldier told the group to be quiet or reprimanded them for laughing near the tomb.1 2 14 +47 newspapers from 7 countries

Where accounts differ

According to CBS News, the reprimand was directed at a group; according to The Guardian and RTP, it was directed at Hegseth.1 3 6
El Universal and RTP quote Hegseth saying "bien hecho" and "Muito bem, soldado"; the other headlines do not mention these words.5 6

Who is involved

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, appears as the person who awarded the medal.1 3 5 10
The decorated soldier is a sentry from the tomb guard, identified in the headlines only as a soldier or serviceman.2 7 12

Background

2025Pete Hegseth was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2025, after the Senate Armed Services Committee had examined allegations against him.W
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington holds unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II and the Korean War, and is guarded around the clock by the 3rd Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard".W

AIMade at 15:26 from 14 headlines from 10 countries; the background, from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Each number links to the source. Rules

The headlines, side by side

Each headline is the original, as the newspaper published it, in the order it arrived. The selection follows the public grouping rule, with no AI.

Highlighted words are used only by that newspaper, among the headlines in the same language. They show what each one chose to stress.

CBS News · United States · 15:15Pentagon reacts after Hegseth's party was reprimanded at Arlington over laughing near sacred tombRead at the newspaper ↗
El Mundo · Spain · 17:01Hegseth condecora al centinela que le llamó la atención a gritos por reírse junto a la tumba del Soldado Desconocido del cementerio de ArlingtonRead at the newspaper ↗
The Guardian · United Kingdom · 18:20Pete Hegseth awards medal to soldier who reprimanded him near Tomb of the Unknown SoldierRead at the newspaper ↗
Geo News · Pakistan · 18:40US soldier who told Pentagon chief to keep quiet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier gets medal from HegsethRead at the newspaper ↗
CBC News · Canada · 18:20U.S. army guard given medal by Hegseth day after Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimandRead at the newspaper ↗
El Universal · Mexico · 19:45Hegseth condecora al militar que lo reprendió en la Tumba del soldado desconocido; "bien hecho", le diceRead at the newspaper ↗
RTP · Portugal · 19:25"Muito bem, soldado". Hegseth condecora soldado que o repreendeu após risos junto a túmulo militarRead at the newspaper ↗
BBC News · United Kingdom · 20:40Hegseth awards medal to war memorial guard who reprimanded him and groupRead at the newspaper ↗
Clarín · Argentina · 20:15Hegseth condecora al soldado que le mandó guardar silencio durante un homenaje militarRead at the newspaper ↗
Observador · Portugal · 20:20Pete Hegseth condecora militar que o repreendeuRead at the newspaper ↗
Gazeta do Povo · Brazil · 21:45Secretário de Guerra dos EUA condecora militar que exigiu silêncio de sua comitiva durante cerimôniaRead at the newspaper ↗
RPP · Peru · 22:35Un centinela exigió silencio a Pete Hegseth ante la Tumba del Soldado Desconocido y terminó condecorado [VIDEO]Read at the newspaper ↗
ABC News · United States · 23:40Soldier who admonished Hegseth group at Arlington Cemetery awarded a medalRead at the newspaper ↗
NPR · United States · 10:30Hegseth awards medal to soldier who chastised himRead at the newspaper ↗

Words in common

hegseth
condecora
medal
soldado