Trump Refutes Claims of Exploiting Visit to Soldiers’ Graves for Publicity

Donald Trump has refuted claims that he exploited a visit to soldiers’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery for political gain, insisting that he does not seek publicity.

The U.S. Army publicly criticized Trump’s campaign officials for turning a solemn ceremony into a photo opportunity. Two of his campaign staff allegedly disregarded an official’s request not to take photographs at the graves of 13 U.S. servicemen and women killed in a suicide bombing during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Images showed Trump posing with family members at the graves, raising a thumbs up for the camera. During a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he claimed he only participated in the photos at the families’ invitation, despite the lack of any official authorization for such actions.

“I don’t need publicity. I get a lot of publicity. I would like to get a lot less publicity … I would hire a public relations agent to get less publicity,” Trump asserted.

He further criticized President Joe Biden, claiming, “Joe Biden killed those young people because he was incompetent.” Trump’s comments came in the face of accusations that he misused the graves for publicity purposes.

Prior to the rally, Trump sent out a fundraising email to his supporters, teasing an “EARTH-SHATTERING announcement” that would significantly impact the election. He declared that it would instill “FEAR into the hearts of our DEEP STATE ENEMIES” and trigger a frenzy within the press.

However, no such announcement materialized at the event. Instead, Trump revisited familiar themes, touching upon immigration, crime, and questioning the capabilities of Vice President Kamala Harris to handle issues with China and North Korea.

He reiterated calls for the death penalty for drug dealers and vowed to combat inflation and economic woes, while also promising to prohibit transgender women from competing in women’s sports. He digressed into remarks about what he described as the “war on Christmas.”

Trump issued new charges against foreign nations, alleging that they were releasing criminals into the U.S. illegally. He even suggested that if he were in charge of those countries, he would manage the situation better than their current leaders do.

“If I was running one of those countries, I’d be doing better than them at getting them (imprisoned criminals) out,” he remarked.

Despite his frequent claims, Trump provided no evidence to substantiate his allegations. He did, however, reference footage showing Venezuelan gangs in Aurora, Colorado, claiming they were part of a larger pattern of criminal activity tied to the Venezuelan government. Trump has previously accused Venezuela of sending criminals across the Mexican border.

Speaking for over 90 minutes, Trump addressed criticisms that he rambles during his speeches. He characterized his speaking style as interweaving complex thoughts. “You know, I do the weave. You know what the weave is? I’ll talk about, like, nine different things that they all come back brilliantly together,” he explained. “And it’s like friends of mine that are like English professors, they say ‘It’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen.’”

He compared these perceptions to what he deemed the mischaracterization from the media, dismissing it as “rambling.”

At the conclusion of the rally, Trump urged his supporters to ensure a decisive electoral victory, suggesting that a large win would be impervious to manipulation. “Get the hell out to vote,” he said. “We want a landslide that is too big to rig.”