Former President Donald Trump is facing scrutiny after sharing a video that features footage from Arlington National Cemetery, potentially breaching federal laws regarding campaigning in military cemeteries. During the incident, Trump campaign staff reportedly engaged in a physical altercation with an Arlington staff member over filming restrictions.
This latest controversy is not the first time Trump has been accused of politicizing military events, as his campaign attempts to mitigate backlash. On the same day, Trump visited Arlington to commemorate the third anniversary of a tragic attack in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers during the controversial withdrawal of troops. Trump and various Republican leaders have placed blame on President Biden and Vice President Harris for the ensuing chaos and fatalities.
The 21-second video shared by Trump depicts him laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and interacting with Gold Star family members at gravesites in Section 60 of the cemetery. Over somber music, Trump reflects, “We lost 13 great people, what a horrible day it was. We didn’t lose one person in 18 months, and then they took over the disaster, the leaving of Afghanistan.”
However, federal law prohibits the use of military cemeteries for campaign-related activities, and the Trump campaign was unauthorised to film at the location. Tensions escalated when two campaign staffers confronted an Arlington staff member attempting to halt the filming.
Following the incident, family members present at Arlington claimed they had invited Trump and given permission for his crew to document moments of remembrance. Some family members have previously spoken at political events, criticizing Biden and expressing support for Trump.
Despite family members’ approval for filming, it’s important to note that they cannot overrule established regulations. Reports indicate that the family of a Green Beret who died by suicide did not consent to being included in the campaign’s footage.
The Trump Campaign’s Response
In response to the backlash, the Trump campaign’s rhetoric has intensified, with one spokesperson suggesting that the cemetery staffer was experiencing a mental health crisis, while also promising to release footage of the encounter, which has yet to be made public.
On the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio Senator JD Vance heavily criticized media coverage, asserting that Trump was merely providing emotional support to grieving families and that the incident was being exaggerated. “You guys in the media, you’re acting like Donald Trump filmed a TV commercial at a gravesite,” Vance stated. “He was there offering encouragement to brave Americans who lost loved ones.”
Additionally, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who accompanied Trump during the Arlington visit, has since apologized for inadvertently sending a campaign fundraising email that included a photo taken in Section 60.
This controversy highlights an ongoing narrative, as Trump has faced allegations in the past regarding the politicization of military affairs for personal gain, including derogatory remarks about deceased servicemembers and disputes surrounding military honors.
