Hegseth’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimand exposes GOP’s glaring double standard

The episode brought to mind the right’s reaction to a brief exchange at another hallowed ground.

Play Hayes: Hegseth’s Tomb visit exposes the right’s double standard November 12, 2026 / 03:12 By  Chris Hayes Nov. 13, 2026, 2:27 PM EST This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 12 episode of “All In with Chris Hayes.”

Do you know the oldest active unit in the U.S. Army? They are the 3rd Infantry, better known as the “Old Guard.” They trace their origins back to 1784, and they fought in virtually every war up to World War II.

But in 1948, the Old Guard was given a new mission: the official ceremonial guard of the Army. They are the soldiers you see at military and state funerals. They also stand watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. It is one of the highest and most selective honors in the service.

They march on some of the most hallowed ground in the nation — every day and night, in every sort of weather. It is their duty to maintain the dignity of the grounds without any hint of ego. Those keeping watch do not wear rank insignia on their uniforms so that no guard ever appears to outrank the unidentified service members resting within the tomb.

How many American flag pocket squares will Hegseth need to cover his humiliation?

If you have visited the tomb, you understand that it is a place for quiet and respectful reflection. And that’s a lesson that Pete Hegseth and his entourage learned on Wednesday, when the defense secretary visited the hallowed ground for Veterans Day.

During that visit, an Army sentinel guarding the tomb reprimanded Hegseth, his wife and a group of the secretary’s advisers after they were heard talking and laughing outside one of the country’s most sacred war memorials. The guard asked Hegseth and his guests to maintain an atmosphere of “silence and respect.”

Now, that is embarrassing enough if you are just some holiday visitor who gets yelled at. But when you are the war guy, whose whole identity is being more military than everyone else, how many American flag pocket squares do you need to cover your humiliation?

Hegseth did save a little face by giving the soldier, Spc. Thomas Iglesias, a medal for doing his duty — even when it meant reprimanding his boss.

But the episode brought to mind a very different reaction to a brief exchange at another hallowed ground. In September, conservative media seized on a four-second clip that appeared to show New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., laughing it up at the 25th-anniversary 9/11 remembrance ceremony.

Hosts at Fox News, Steve Bannon and even President Donald Trump all blasted the mayor and the congresswoman for their behavior at the memorial. But it was all lies. The full video of the event showed Mamdani greeting Ocasio-Cortez warmly and briefly before they both turned their attention back to the solemn ceremony. The outrage was fabricated.

Now Hegseth’s own group has been reprimanded at a sacred memorial, and those same voices have little to say. Their silence makes clear their concern was never respect or honor. It was scoring political points.

Chris Hayes is the host of “All In with Chris Hayes.”

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