Article continues below advertisementThe Pentagon has officially denied reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was chewing gum during a solemn, dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 18.The denial follows the circulation of footage showing Hegseth appearing to "munch" or chew as he arrived at the base alongside President Donald Trump, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and House Speaker Mike Johnson and other high-ranking officials to honor six fallen service members killed in a plane crash during the ongoing conflict with Iran.