Vice President Kamala Harris recently spoke out against former President Donald Trump and his campaign for what she described as disrespecting the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery for a political stunt. In a post on X, the Democratic Party nominee emphasized that Arlington National Cemetery is a place where Americans come together to honor their heroes, and it should not be used for political purposes.
This statement from Harris comes in response to reports of an altercation between a female cemetery official and a Trump campaign staffer during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ceremony was intended to commemorate three years since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Trump was joined by Gold Star families who had lost family members in the conflict.
Harris expressed her disappointment with the former president’s team for choosing to film a video at the cemetery, leading to the altercation with cemetery staff. She firmly stated that disrespecting such sacred ground for the sake of a political stunt is unacceptable. Harris emphasized the importance of honoring veterans, military families, and service members with the utmost respect and gratitude.
The Trump campaign and Arlington National Cemetery officials provided differing accounts of the incident. The campaign claimed they had received explicit permission from Gold Star families to bring “campaign designated media” to Section 60 of the cemetery. However, federal law prohibits filming for partisan, political, or fundraising purposes on the grounds of Army National Military Cemeteries, as outlined in Arlington National Cemetery media policies.
An Army spokesperson confirmed that all participants were made aware of these federal laws before the incident took place. The spokesperson also noted that an Arlington Cemetery employee who attempted to enforce these rules was pushed aside, but the matter was handled professionally to avoid further disruption. The incident was reported to the military police department, but the employee chose not to press charges, and the Army considers the matter closed.
The Trump campaign’s communications director, Steven Cheung, denied any physical altercation and expressed readiness to release footage of the incident. He claimed that a private photographer was permitted on the premises, but an unnamed individual interrupted the proceedings, causing a disturbance during a solemn ceremony.
In response to Harris’s comments, Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, criticized the vice president for her handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and suggested she focus on investigating the unnecessary deaths of American troops rather than engaging in social media disputes. Republican Senator Tom Cotton praised Trump for attending the ceremony at the invitation of Gold Star families and criticized Harris and President Joe Biden for their handling of the troop withdrawal.
The Trump campaign’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, launched a scathing attack on Harris, blaming her for the deaths of American soldiers during the withdrawal and accusing her of incompetence in her role as Vice President. Leavitt highlighted Harris’s failure to acknowledge the fallen soldiers or reach out to their families, questioning her suitability for the position of Commander in Chief.
In contrast, Democratic lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the U.S. Army requesting a full account of the incident at Arlington National Cemetery. They raised concerns about the Trump campaign’s alleged flouting of laws and rules regarding filming in restricted areas for political purposes. Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland called for a response from Army Secretary Christine Wormuth by a specified deadline.
As the controversy surrounding the incident continues to unfold, it has sparked debates among political figures and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The conflicting narratives and differing perspectives on the events at Arlington National Cemetery highlight the ongoing divisions in American politics and the challenges of maintaining respect and decorum in sacred spaces dedicated to honoring the nation’s heroes.
