Former President Donald Trump marked the third anniversary of a suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members during a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.
During the event, an altercation reportedly occurred between two Trump campaign staff members and a cemetery official. The official attempted to prevent the campaign staff from filming and photographing in Section 60, where recent U.S. casualties are interred. Cemetery regulations clearly state that only authorized personnel may take photographs in this sensitive area.
Witnesses reported that the officials faced verbal abuse and physical obstruction when they enforced these rules. The Trump campaign has responded strongly to the characterization of the incident, asserting that their staff was simply trying to document a significant moment.
Trump’s visit was a somber reminder of a tragic event during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, following which the Trump campaign has criticized the Biden administration for the chaotic exit.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign denied any physical confrontation, indicating they would release footage to counter these claims. “An unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony,” the spokesperson added.
Arlington National Cemetery confirmed that an incident took place and filed a report, emphasizing that federal law prohibits political activities within military cemeteries, including photography for campaign purposes. This law was communicated to all participants in the event.
