President Donald Trump on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Veterans Day and honor fallen service members.
He was joined by Vice President JD Vance and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. The observance is a central fixture of the national holiday, which is held each year on November 11. The White House listed a wreath laying followed by presidential remarks in Arlington.
The president’s schedule indicated planned remarks after the ceremony. Veterans Day programming at Arlington typically opens with the wreath laying, then moves to the Memorial Amphitheater for a formal program with invited guests and dignitaries. The sequence allows a solemn moment at the tomb before broader public observances begin.
Ceremony details and timing
Arlington’s national ceremony is organized for 11 a.m. on Veterans Day. The wreath laying at the tomb is conducted with military honors and a moment of silence before the procession continues to the amphitheater.
The Army’s Military District of Washington manages the event in coordination with Arlington National Cemetery staff and veteran service organizations.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded year-round, serves as the setting for the president’s tribute. Veterans, families, and visiting members of the public typically attend the amphitheater program, while access to the tomb area is controlled for the official delegation and ceremonial units. While attendance figures vary by year, the Veterans Day event is among the cemetery’s most closely watched commemorations.
Who joined the president
Vice President JD Vance accompanied the president for the observance. The vice president was also listed to deliver remarks with the president during the Veterans Day program in Arlington.
The pairing reflects the administration’s practice this year of featuring both leaders at major national ceremonies.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas A. Collins joined the delegation. Collins, a former congressman from Georgia and Air Force Reserve chaplain, leads the VA. His department oversees health care and benefits for millions of veterans as well as national cemeteries.
Context for Veterans Day
Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 to honor all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The national ceremony at Arlington is one of two major annual observances at the cemetery, alongside Memorial Day in May. While Memorial Day centers on those who died in service, Veterans Day recognizes service across generations.
The schedule at Arlington is standardized to begin with the wreath laying and continue with an indoor program that includes a parade of colors and remarks.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier symbolizes unidentified American service members lost in war. Its setting at Arlington makes it the focal point of presidential commemorations, including on Veterans Day.
The solemnity of the ritual, the silence on the plaza, and the precision of the honor guard frame the moment before the day’s speeches and musical performances at the amphitheater.
