On Thursday’s Good Morning America, the ABC morning program’s main political report, besides celebrating Democrat Scott Colom’s victory in the Mississippi Senate race, bashed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he and a group of people were told to be silent by an Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Reporter Mary Bruce connected it to “midterm fallout” before she defended Democrat investigations into the Trump Administration and claimed Democrats were actually the ones being threatened.
Host Robin Roberts introduced the report with focus on Hegseth:
Now Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is getting reprimanded by an Army sentinel. Hegseth was with a group at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day.
Of course, Good Morning America’s Thursday “midterm fallout” story began with Pete Hegseth being “reprimanded” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with Mary Bruce later turning to defend possible Democrat investigations into the Trump Administration. pic.twitter.com/MJVhbGHSef
— Nick (@nspin310) November 12, 2026
Bruce began, calling it a “remarkable moment,” before continuing: “Now Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is getting reprimanded by an Army sentinel. Hegseth was with a group at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day.”
Bruce, for her part, then noted that neither Hegseth nor the Pentagon was upset with the sentinel: “Now the Pentagon later praising that sentinel, saying he, quote, 'correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.'”
After the reports on Thursday morning, Hegseth and the Pentagon revealed that the secretary awarded the sentinel who reprimanded his group with a medal:
Hegseth presents an award to the soldier who loudly corrected his group at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday for a lack of decorum.
The Pentagon said last night that the soldier acted correctly and did his job. https://t.co/H8KisS5rAs— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) November 12, 2026
But then, Bruce connected the story to the failed impeachment against Hegseth, turning to defend Democrats' investigation plan against Republicans and the Trump administration after gaining majorities in Congress:
This comes as he, for now, is clear of an impeachment investigation on Capitol Hill, but the White House is bracing for a showdown with the new Democratic led congress, and is now warning that investigations into the administration could amount to criminal conduct.
In a letter to Congressman Robert Garcia, the incoming chair of the House oversight committee, the White House's top lawyer writing, quote, “Threats to executive branch officials designed to deter them from public service or process designed merely to abuse or instill fear in the recipient, may cross the line into blatant criminality.”
Bruce then read a statement from incoming Democratic House Oversight Chair, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), before she was defiant about Democratic plans:
Now, it's not clear what the legal basis is for these claims, but Democrats remain undeterred. Garcia saying, quote, "We are not going to be threatened or intimidated because we are demanding accountability and oversight."
If Bruce’s rooting was not enough, host Michael Strahan smiled and added, “Yeah, I'm sure you'll be covering a lot of that over time there.”
CBS Mornings' report was much shorter and focused solely on the Hegseth incident, as Gayle King noted how the Pentagon statement in response said, "a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum." pic.twitter.com/LBhWEICqIG
— Nick (@nspin310) November 12, 2026
Furthermore, CBS Mornings' report on the Hegseth incident was very brief, and said, “The annual Veterans Day tribute at the tomb of the unknown soldier ended with a public scolding for a group of very high-profile visitors, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They were reprimanded for making too much noise at the sacred site inside Arlington National Cemetery.”
She ended the brief report by noting the Pentagon said, ““While commemorating this solemn day a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
Additionally, NBC’s report on Hegseth was an add-on to its love for Democrat Scott Colom in Mississippi, as White House correspondent Garrett Haake used the news of the expanded Democratic majority to connect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier incident to Hegseth impeachment attempts:
On the agenda, when they take office in January, is pursuing impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after House Republicans defeated an effort this week. Hegseth, for his part, is facing scrutiny after he was reprimanded on Veterans Day by a sentinel standing guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Haake then described the moment as a “sharp reprimand,” and noted more of the Pentagon statement that stated, “While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
The transcripts are below. Click "expand":
ABC’s Good Morning America
November 12, 2026
7:14:53 AM Eastern
(...)
ROBIN ROBERTS: Now Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is getting reprimanded by an army sentinel. Hegseth was with a group at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. Our chief white house correspondent, Mary Bruce, has that story.nd more fallout from the midterms. Good morning to you, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, Robin. And this really is a remarkable moment that is gaining attention. The defense secretary, his wife, and top aides at the tomb of the unknown soldier to mark Veterans Day. The group seen posing for pictures, heard talking. One person heard laughing. The group, then reprimanded by a sentinel standing guard. Take a listen
ARMY SENTINEL: All visitors will maintain atmospheric silence and respect at all times.
BRUCE: Now the Pentagon later praising that sentinel, saying he quote, “correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.” This comes as he, for now, is clear of an impeachment investigation on Capitol Hill, but the White House is bracing for a showdown with the new Democratic led congress, and is now warning that investigations into the administration could amount to criminal conduct.
In a letter to Congressman Robert Garcia, the incoming chair of the House oversight committee, the White House's top lawyer writing, quote, “Threats to executive branch officials designed to deter them from public service or process designed merely to abuse or instill fear in the recipient, may cross the line into blatant criminality.”
Now, it's not clear what the legal basis is for these claims, but Democrats remain undeterred. Garcia saying, quote, we are not going to be threatened or intimidated because we are demanding accountability and oversight. Guys?
MICHAEL STRAHAN: [Smiling] Yeah, I'm sure you'll be covering a lot of that over - over time there. Thank you for that, Mary.
(...)
CBS Mornings
November 12, 2026
7:16:52 AM Eastern
GAYLE KING: The annual Veterans Day tribute at the tomb of the unknown soldier ended with a public scolding for a group of very high-profile visitors, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They were reprimanded for making too much noise at the sacred site inside Arlington National Cemetery.
So, this is the story, they say, that Hegseth, his wife and others posed for a photo, then talked and laughed loudly before a U.S. Army sentinel reminded them very clearly of the rules.
ARMY SENTINEL: All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!
KING: A Pentagon spokesman later said, quote, “While commemorating this solemn day a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
(...)
NBC’s Today
November 12, 2026
8:17:02 AM Eastern
HAAKE: The win is expanding Democrats' majority in the Senate to 55 seats and 259 seats in the House.
On the agenda, when they take office in January, is pursuing impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after House Republicans defeated an effort this week. Hegseth, for his part, is facing scrutiny after he was reprimanded on Veterans Day by a sentinel standing guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
ARMY SENTINEL: Silence and respect at all times.
HAAKE: Hegseth, his wife and other senior Pentagon officials, seen taking pictures in front of the tomb, some laughing in what's considered a sacred and silent space. It prompted a sharp reprimand from a U.S. Army sentinel standing guard.
ARMY SENTINEL: All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.
HAAKE: A Pentagon spokesman later saying, “The secretary and the entire department have always honored and will always honor the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe.” Adding, “While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.
(...)
