Former President Donald Trump participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the lives lost in the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan.
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Former President Donald Trump refuted claims made regarding his recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery, describing reports of a conflict as a “fabricated story.” This comes after Army officials indicated one of their personnel was “abruptly pushed aside” by Trump campaign staff during the visit.
Trump criticized the narrative in a statement, labeling it a fabrication by Vice President Harris, whom he referred to derogatorily. He claimed the incident was an attempt to distract from what he termed the blunders of the Biden administration regarding the withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it an “embarrassing day in U.S. history.”
In response to the incident, members of Congress are actively seeking more information. Representative Jamie Raskin has reached out to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth for an official account of the events at Arlington.
Raskin noted that although the incident was reported, the employee involved opted not to pursue charges due to concerns about retaliation from Trump supporters.
Senator Tim Kaine also emphasized the need for a detailed briefing from the Army about the situation, stressing the importance of respecting protocol at such a sacred site.
Harris condemned the actions during the ceremony, asserting that Arlington Cemetery should remain apolitical and criticized Trump for allegedly disrespecting the space for a political endeavor.
During his visit on August 26, Trump was invited by Gold Star families to honor their deceased loved ones, killed during an evacuation at Kabul’s Abbey Gate during the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which also resulted in the deaths of many Afghan civilians.
The Army has stated that Trump’s campaign team violated established rules by capturing photos and videos in areas designated for memorial services, where fallen service members are laid to rest. They reiterated that participants were duly informed of the regulations governing conduct at the cemetery.
Following the incident, Trump’s camp characterized the cemetery staffer as being “clearly suffering from a mental health episode,” and promised to release video footage of the encounter but has yet to do so.
Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump advisor, criticized the staffer, arguing their actions were disgraceful and not representative of the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
This incident is not the first time Trump has faced accusations of exploiting military matters for political gain, having previously faced criticism over remarks regarding military service.
