Harris Claims Trump Campaign “Disrespected” Arlington National Cemetery

Vice President Kamala Harris has criticized former President Donald Trump and his campaign for what she describes as a disrespectful act at Arlington National Cemetery, labeling it a political stunt at a site meant for honoring American heroes. In a recent statement on X, Harris emphasized that Arlington is a “sacred ground” not intended for political purposes.

Her remarks follow reports of an incident that occurred on Monday, which involved a confrontation between a Trump campaign staffer and a female official from the cemetery. Trump had gathered with Gold Star families to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marking the three-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“As was reported this week, Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there, resulting in an altercation with cemetery staff,” Harris said. “Let me be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt.” She expressed her belief that veterans, military families, and service members deserve the highest respect and should never be disrespected.

The responses from the Trump campaign and Arlington National Cemetery officials present differing accounts of the events that transpired. The Trump campaign asserts that they received explicit permission from Gold Star families to bring “campaign designated media” to Section 60 of the cemetery. They have shared messages indicating that such permission was granted.

However, federal law prohibits filming for political purposes within Army National Military Cemeteries, regardless of requests from family members of deceased service members, as per the cemetery’s regulations. An Army spokesperson confirmed that participants were made aware of these laws prior to the incident.

The Army noted, “An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside.” They highlighted that the employee acted professionally and did not escalate the situation further. The incident, reported to military police, was ultimately deemed closed, with no charges pressed by the cemetery employee involved.

Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, disputed claims of any physical confrontation, asserting that they are prepared to release video evidence from the event. He described the situation, stating, “A private photographer was permitted on the premises, and for whatever reason, an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony.”

The controversy surrounding the incident has prompted varied reactions from Republican figures. Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, responded to Harris’s remarks, suggesting that he should focus on investigating the deaths of servicemen rather than criticizing Trump. Vance stated, “President Trump was there at the invitation of families whose loved ones died because of your incompetence.” He urged Harris to prioritize accountability over social media commentary.

Senator Tom Cotton echoed this sentiment, asserting that Gold Star families have the right to invite anyone they wish to commemorate important occasions. He criticized Harris and President Biden, stating that they failed to adequately address the grief of Gold Star families after the deaths of thirteen American troops during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also weighed in, blaming Harris for the fatalities during the withdrawal. She accused the vice president of negligence regarding the service members who lost their lives, emphasizing her lack of acknowledgment toward those families affected.

In the political fallout from this incident, Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee have taken steps to investigate the matter further. They have sent a letter to the U.S. Army requesting a comprehensive account of what occurred during the cemetery visit. Representative Jamie Raskin from Maryland expressed concerns in the letter, suggesting that the Trump campaign violated restrictions by filming in a prohibited area, supposedly for a political TikTok video.

Raskin has asked the Army Secretary for a response regarding the incident, demonstrating the continuing tension between the two parties over this controversy. The divide over the incident at Arlington National Cemetery reflects broader political struggles as the nation approaches the upcoming elections.

Source: CBS News