The controversy surrounding former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery has intensified, with Vice President Kamala Harris publicly criticizing Trump’s actions, accusing him of failing to understand anything beyond self-interest.
In a detailed social media post on Saturday, Harris emphasized that veterans, service members, and their families deserve the utmost respect and honor. She argued that anyone who cannot fulfill this fundamental duty should never again hold the office of President of the United States. Her comments come in the wake of growing backlash against Trump’s visit to Arlington on Monday, where he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the 13 U.S. service members killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.
The visit sparked controversy after the U.S. Army rebuked Trump’s campaign for using video and images from the ceremony, which some critics say violated rules against political activity on sacred grounds. The Army stated that participants were informed of federal laws governing political activity and noted that a cemetery employee who attempted to enforce these rules was “abruptly pushed aside.”
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Following Harris’ statement, Trump defended his actions by sharing videos on Truth Social featuring parents of service members who were killed in the Kabul bombing. In the videos, the parents expressed support for Trump while condemning Harris and President Joe Biden. Jaclyn Schmitz, mother of Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, accused Harris of using the situation for political gain, while Coral Doolittle, mother of Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, blamed Harris and Biden for the deaths of their children.
Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, added that the events at Arlington with Trump were conducted with the solemnity and respect due to all military members buried there, noting that it was the families who requested the photos and videos be taken.
This is the first time Harris has directly addressed the controversy, seeking to differentiate herself from Trump ahead of their upcoming debate on September 10. Harris’ campaign communications director, Michael Tyler, previously described the incident as “pretty sad” and indicative of what people have come to expect from Trump.
In response, the Trump campaign also released a statement from Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, an Army veteran and Trump supporter, defending the former president and criticizing Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. Cotton, who was not present during Trump’s visit, claimed that neither the families nor Trump violated cemetery regulations, and accused Army officials of disrespecting the wishes of Gold Star families.
Accounts of the incident at Arlington have varied. While Trump campaign officials claimed that a cemetery official physically blocked Trump’s team from accompanying him, NPR reported that a cemetery official attempted to stop Trump’s team from photographing and filming in a restricted area. The Trump campaign has maintained that no laws were broken, while Arlington Cemetery officials emphasized that federal law prohibits political campaigning within Army National Military Cemeteries.
The Army stated that while the incident was reported to the police, the employee involved chose not to press charges, and the matter is now considered closed.
