President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump traveled to Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday morning to commemorate Veterans Day, joined by embattled Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth avoided an impeachment vote in the House on Tuesday night after Republicans rallied behind him, despite the effort being led by outgoing GOP Representative Thomas Massie.
A Republican-backed motion to table the impeachment effort passed 211-204, with several Democrats absent from the session.
Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican, sought Hegseth’s removal over the war with Iran and other alleged “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Trump has continued to support Hegseth, a former Fox News Channel host, even after the Republicans suffered a midterm defeat in which the party lost control of both the House and Senate.
Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, sat beside the First Lady during the ceremony. The Cabinet secretary drew loud cheers when Trump mentioned him in his remarks.
“I had a feeling that was going to happen,” Trump said with a chuckle. “He’s done a fantastic job, and he loves you, and he protects you.”
As the ceremony ended, one audience member called out to Hegseth: “We’ve got your back!”
President Donald Trump delivered remarks at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday during a Veterans Day ceremony
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attended the Veterans Day ceremony hours after the House spared him an impeachment vote
Jennifer Hegseth and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (left) attended the ceremony after the former Fox News host avoided an impeachment vote. The couple sat beside First Lady Melania Trump (center)
Trump also declared that the United States had already “won” the war with Iran.
“It’s just a question of when we want to end it,” the President said. “We want to make sure we have a total victory, not a 93 percent victory.”
Trump’s appearance at Arlington came as he remains locked in a dispute with veterans’ organizations over plans to build a triumphal arch.
Veterans’ groups have raised concerns that the 250-foot structure, which critics have nicknamed the “Arc de Trump,” would cast a shadow over some military gravesites.
The proposed arch would also obstruct the view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Nevertheless, Trump promoted the project during his Veterans Day address.
“And soon we’re going to dedicate a magnificent triumphal arc to our veterans,” Trump said. “And that’s in honor of our great veterans and our great militaries.”
“They’ve been waiting for it for 200 years,” the President claimed.
President Donald Trump (left) and Vice President JD Vance (right) salute during Wednesday’s Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
First Lady Melania Trump (left) and Second Lady Usha Vance (right) stood together during the wreath-laying ceremony at the start of the event
A group of Vietnam War veterans filed the initial lawsuit against the arch with support from Public Citizen, a left-leaning watchdog organization.
VoteVets, an organization that helps elect Democratic candidates, has also organized opposition to the project.
On Tuesday, members of President John F. Kennedy’s family sued to stop construction, arguing that the massive structure would cast a shadow over the slain Democrat’s eternal flame.
The National Capital Planning Commission, one of two bodies overseeing such projects, approved the arch last week.
Before demolishing the White House’s East Wing, Trump filled the NCPC and the Commission of Fine Arts—the other oversight body—with allies who have approved each presidential project despite public opposition.
On Thursday, only hours after the NCPC approved the arch, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a two-week restraining order barring construction while the project proceeds through court.
