Vance Tells Harris to ‘Go to Hell’ Amid Campaigns’ Afghanistan Dispute

Senator JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, recently expressed strong criticism regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s handling of key issues related to the Afghanistan War. At a campaign event in Erie, Pennsylvania, he made headlines when he told reporters that the vice president can “go to hell.” This comment was made in response to a question about a reported incident at Arlington National Cemetery.

The question addressed claims that the Trump campaign had politicized the cemetery during a visit, involving a supposed altercation with cemetery officials and a photographer. Vance dismissed the significance of the incident, suggesting it was exaggerated by the media.

He asserted, “The altercation at Arlington Cemetery is the media creating a story where I really don’t think there is one,” pointing out that there is “verifiable evidence” supporting the idea that the Trump campaign was permitted to have a photographer present. Vance indicated that the media’s portrayal of the altercation was unwarranted, emphasizing that veterans likely care more about real issues rather than the supposed disagreement at the cemetery.

Vance then shifted focus to the broader implications of Harris’s actions relating to the Afghanistan withdrawal, highlighting a tragic event that occurred during the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. He recalled that thirteen American service members lost their lives during a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate near Kabul’s airport in 2021. Vance criticized Harris for failing to conduct an investigation into the incident and for not taking responsibility afterward.

During his remarks, he stated, “The other thing our veterans care a lot more about is that three years ago, 13 brave, innocent Americans died, and they died because Kamala Harris refused to do her job.” He lamented the lack of accountability for those in leadership positions following this tragic event.

Vance continued, emphasizing that while mistakes happen in government and military operations, the absence of any disciplinary action in response to the deaths of the thirteen servicemen was “disgraceful.” He strongly criticized Harris, stating, “Kamala Harris is disgraceful.”

Following the loss of the thirteen Americans, Vance expressed his dismay at the lack of any formal investigations or changes in personnel resulting from the incident. He explained, “We’re gonna talk about a story out of those 13 brave, innocent Americans who lost their lives, it’s that Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she won’t even do an investigation into what happened.” Vance concluded this thought by saying, “She can go to hell.”

In light of these remarks, the Harris campaign responded earlier on the same day. They issued a statement criticizing the Trump campaign for the reported altercations at the cemetery. According to NPR, citing an anonymous source, the incident involved aides to former President Trump who had a dispute with cemetery officials regarding access to Section 60, where the graves of service members who died in recent conflicts are located.

While the Trump campaign denied that there was any physical altercation, the controversy continued to spark dialogue in the media. Michael Tyler, the communications director for Harris’s campaign, described the confrontation between the Trump aides and the cemetery officials as “pretty sad” during a CNN interview.

He went on to point out that Donald Trump has a tendency to make situations revolve around himself and expressed concern over his history of disrespecting military personnel, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

As the political climate continues to heat up, the interactions between the Trump and Harris campaigns serve as a microcosm of the broader tensions surrounding the Vietnam and Afghanistan conflicts and their aftermath. Vance’s remarks highlight not only his personal views but also a significant issue many veterans and their families are keenly aware of—the need for accountability within government agencies, especially in moments of national tragedy.

Source: The Hill