Military Veterans Vance and Hegseth Stand with Trump as New Administration Takes Shape at Memorial Day

The new Trump administration’s military credentials were on full display during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, with Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—both Iraq War veterans—joining the president in honoring fallen servicemen and women. The ceremony marked an important early appearance for the administration’s military leadership team.
Defense Secretary Hegseth, who has been vocal about his plans to reform military diversity programs, spoke about men who sacrificed their lives for the nation during his portion of the ceremony. His remarks focused exclusively on male service members, reflecting his controversial stance on military inclusion policies. Vice President Vance provided a more inclusive perspective, acknowledging Arlington as the resting place for “our nation’s sons and daughters.”
The presence of combat veterans in key administration positions added authenticity to the Memorial Day tributes, even as President Trump mixed traditional military honors with political messaging. The ceremony demonstrated how the new administration plans to leverage its military experience and connections while pursuing its broader policy agenda, using the credibility of veteran leadership to support both military initiatives and political objectives.