President Trump Honors Veterans at Arlington National Cemetery

President Donald Trump led a solemn Veterans Day ceremony Monday morning at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring the nation’s servicemen and women with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The event, held under overcast skies, drew senior administration officials, military leaders, and hundreds of spectators, including veterans and Gold Star families. The president was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins in a tribute that blended ceremony, reflection, and national pride.

After arriving at the Memorial Amphitheater, Trump stood silently as a military honor guard carried the wreath to the tomb. A moment of silence followed, punctuated only by the playing of “Taps.” The president then stepped forward, adjusted the wreath’s ribbon, and saluted as the crowd stood at attention.

In brief remarks afterward, Trump praised the courage and sacrifice of America’s veterans, calling them “the eternal guardians of freedom.” He said Veterans Day should be a reminder that “our liberty has been secured by men and women who asked for nothing in return but the chance to defend the greatest nation on earth.”

Vice President Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, emphasized the importance of honoring veterans not only through words but through ongoing care and support. “Every day should be Veterans Day,” he said, noting his recent visits to wounded soldiers recovering in military hospitals.

Collins, who oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs, highlighted the administration’s efforts to modernize veterans’ healthcare and speed up claims processing. “Our mission is simple — to serve those who served,” he said. “We’re cutting wait times, expanding access to care, and ensuring every veteran gets the respect and attention they’ve earned.”

The ceremony at Arlington — one of the nation’s oldest Veterans Day traditions — continues a long-standing practice of presidents personally paying tribute to fallen soldiers. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, established in 1921, serves as a symbol of all unidentified service members lost in battle.

Across the country, communities held parades, observances, and memorial events marking the holiday, which commemorates the end of World War I and honors all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

As the wreath ceremony concluded, a 21-gun salute echoed through the cemetery’s quiet hillsides, followed by a moment of reflection. President Trump stood with his hand over his heart as the flag at half-staff rippled in the morning breeze — a final gesture of respect to the men and women who have defended the nation in every generation.