Family of fallen Green Beret upset over Trump’s TikTok at cemetery

The recent visit by former President Donald Trump to Arlington National Cemetery has sparked controversy, raising concerns among families of fallen soldiers. According to reports, Trump’s campaign filmed a TikTok video in the cemetery, which included footage of him laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, this event has been met with backlash, particularly from the family of a Green Beret buried in the cemetery.

Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington, marking the third anniversary of the attack on U.S. troops during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The incident in question, which led to the deaths of 13 service members, has often been cited by Trump and the GOP to criticize the Biden administration’s actions.

During his visit, Trump laid a bouquet on the grave of a soldier in Section 60, where many troops who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan are interred. Reports indicate that he laid a wreath on the grave of Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover, a victim of the Kabul attack. The Hoover family permitted Trump and his campaign to film at their loved one’s grave.

However, the family of Master Sergeant Andrew Marckesano, who is buried alongside Hoover, was upset that they had not granted permission for the filming. Marckesano’s sister, Michele, expressed her support for Hoover’s family and criticized Trump’s campaign for not adhering to the established rules regarding visits to the cemetery.

In her statement, Michele Marckesano emphasized the importance of treating the graves of service members with honor and respect. “We hope that those visiting this sacred site understand that these were real people who sacrificed for our freedom,” she stated. Marckesano, a decorated soldier, unfortunately took his own life in July 2020 after serving multiple tours in Afghanistan. The Green Beret Foundation has since established the “MSG Andrew Marckesano Suicide Prevention Fund” to support mental health initiatives for Green Berets and their families.

Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, directed inquiries to a segment of the Times’ reporting but did not address whether the campaign had permission to film at Marckesano’s grave. This lack of clarity has contributed to ongoing concerns over the appropriateness of Trump’s actions during the visit.

Additionally, an earlier report by NPR revealed that two staff members from Trump’s campaign encountered a cemetery official while filming. This official attempted to prevent the campaign from taking photos and videos in Section 60, resulting in a physical altercation. The cemetery later confirmed that an “incident” took place and a report was filed in connection with it.

Federal law strictly prohibits any political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries. This includes restrictions on photographers, content creators, and anyone associated with a partisan political candidate’s campaign. Arlington National Cemetery has reiterated and shared these legal prohibitions widely with all participants.

In response to the allegations of a physical altercation, Trump’s camp has firmly denied that any sort of fight occurred. Cheung stated, “There was no physical altercation as described. We are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made.” However, as of now, the Trump campaign has not made any footage from this special visit available to the public.

This incident has raised significant questions about respect for military memorials and the sensitivity required when engaging with the families of those who died in service. The conflicting statements and actions surrounding Trump’s visit to Arlington underscore a contentious period in political history, further complicated by the emotional weight that such memorial sites carry.

The families involved hope that their loved ones are honored appropriately and that visits to their graves are conducted with the utmost care and respect.