Some of the families whose loved ones died in the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan defended former President Donald Trump’s much-criticized visit to the cemetery last week—and blasted Vice President Kamala Harris—in videos released by Trump campaign, seeking to neutralize a growing controversy.
Republican presidential nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves Section 60 of Arlington ... [+]
The statement and videos defending are Trump’s latest attempt to respond to criticism from other Gold Star families and veterans, the Army (which operates the cemetery) and Harris for taking photos and video in a restricted section of the cemetery, known as Section 60, where service members killed in recent wars are buried, on the third anniversary of the bombing last Monday.
Federal law prohibits photography at Arlington National Cemetery “for partisan, political or fundraising purposes,” such as campaign activity.
Trump posted photos of himself at the gravesites—including a heavily reproduced image of the former president giving a “thumbs up” sign—in which military members’ names were visible on headstones.
Harris made her first public statements in response to the incident on Saturday, writing in a lengthy statement on X that Trump “disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt,” adding “it’s not a place for politics.”
In a statement issued Sunday by Trump’s campaign, the families of seven of the 13 service members killed in the 2021 bombing accused Harris of having “disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy,” adding that she “bears responsibility for the deaths of our sons and daughters” in her role as vice president, and has “ignored” their requests for a meeting.
The campaign also posted video messages from eight Gold Star family members, some of whom also signed the letter, defending Trump, and Trump reposted many of them to his X account along with Harris’ tweet criticizing his visit.
The Trump campaign’s insistence on taking photos and video at the cemetery reportedly also led to a physical altercation between a campaign staffer and cemetery worker. The Army said in a statement Thursday a Trump campaign staffer “abruptly pushed aside” a female Arlington worker who attempted to stop the campaign from taking photos and video there—allegations the Trump campaign vehemently denied, while insulting the worker as “despicable” and claiming she was suffering from a mental health episode. The campaign also threatened to release video footage of the incident, but never has. The Army said military police were called to the site after the incident, but the employee decided not to press charges and the Army “considers this matter closed.”
Trump participated in a wreath-laying at the cemetery last week as he has sought to make the Afghanistan withdrawal a key attack point against Harris and the Biden administration throughout his campaign. Trump has also been criticized for the withdrawal, which he signed off on during his time as president. Family members of troops buried in Section 60 have criticized Trump for his conduct during the visit, including the sister of Master Sgt. Andrew Marckesano, who accused the Trump campaign of failing to adhere to the photography rules during their visit. The Trump campaign, which was accompanied to the cemetery by some Gold Star families, has denied not having permission to take photos and video, pointing to permission granted to the campaign by some of the Gold Star families and the cemetery.
Trump Staffers Reportedly Had Physical Altercation With Arlington National Cemetery Official (Forbes)