Harris: Trump ‘disrespected sacred ground’ at Arlington Cemetery

Vice President Kamala Harris recently expressed her disapproval of former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery, describing it as a “political stunt.” Her comments came following an incident where a member of Trump’s campaign team allegedly pushed aside a cemetery staff member to create space for Trump and his campaign to photograph with families of service members who had lost their lives during the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Harris, who is also the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, took to social media to share her thoughts on the matter. She emphasized that all Americans can agree that veterans, military families, and service members deserve honor and respect. She stated, “If there is one thing on which we as Americans can all agree, it is that our veterans, military families, and service members should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude.”

The Vice President further noted that an individual who cannot uphold this essential principle should not be in a position to serve as President of the United States. In her remarks, she aimed to highlight what she sees as a broader pattern of behavior exhibited by Trump.

“This is nothing new from Donald Trump,” she asserted. “This is a man who has called our fallen service members ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ and disparaged Medal of Honor recipients. A man who, during a prior visit to the cemetery, reportedly questioned, ‘What was in it for them?’ This illustrates a profound inability to understand anything beyond self-service.”

Harris described her personal experiences at the cemetery, emphasizing its somber atmosphere. “It is a solemn place; a place where we come together to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation. It is not a place for politics,” she remarked.

The incident in question took place in Section 60, an area known for typically prohibiting video and photography. In response to Harris’s allegations, Trump and his campaign officials defended the visit. During an NBC News interview, Trump recalled being approached by a family member who requested a photograph at the grave of their loved one, stating, “While I was there, I didn’t ask for a picture. While I was there, they said, ‘Sir, could we have a picture at the grave?'”

Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, reacted to Harris’s remarks by suggesting that Trump was invited to the cemetery by the families of fallen soldiers. Vance urged Harris to focus on addressing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the service members instead of criticizing Trump’s actions. He took to social media to convey his thoughts, saying, “President Trump was there at the invitation of families whose loved ones died because of your incompetence.” 

In response to Harris’s statements, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt accused Harris of contributing to the circumstances that led to soldiers’ deaths during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which occurred during the Biden administration. In a social media post, Leavitt asserted that Harris’s alleged incompetence disqualified her from holding a position of leadership.

The Arlington National Cemetery also commented on the incident, stating that federal law prohibits political campaign-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, including the presence of photographers or anyone participating for partisan political purposes. The regulations are in place to maintain the cemetery’s revered atmosphere.

Furthermore, Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland has taken an interest in the altercation and has requested a formal report from the U.S. Army regarding the event. In his correspondence, Raskin expressed hope that Army Secretary Christine Wormuth would provide a detailed account of the incident.

Raskin’s letter mentioned that the incident had been reported to the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall police, but it was also noted that the employee involved chose not to press charges, fearing retaliation from Trump supporters.