Vice President Kamala Harris has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump following a recent controversy involving his campaign at Arlington National Cemetery. Harris condemned Trump’s actions, stating that the military burial site is “not a place for politics.”
In a social media post on Saturday, Harris accused Trump of disrespecting “sacred ground” for a political stunt. The incident in question occurred on Monday during an event honoring 13 U.S. military service members who lost their lives during the country’s withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago.
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According to the U.S. Army, a Trump staffer “abruptly pushed aside” a cemetery employee who was attempting to remind the team about the rules prohibiting filming at the cemetery. The Trump campaign has disputed this version of events, asserting that they had obtained permission from the families of the fallen soldiers to film.
This marks the first time Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, has publicly commented on the controversy. In her post, Harris emphasized her frequent visits to Arlington National Cemetery during her tenure as vice president, making it clear she would never exploit the site for political purposes.
“If there is one thing on which we as Americans can all agree, it is that our veterans, military families, and service members should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude,” Harris stated. She added that anyone who cannot uphold this “sacred duty” should never again serve as President of the United States.
Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Michigan on Thursday, dismissed the criticism, claiming that he had been asked by family members of the deceased soldiers to pose for a photo at the site. “I go there, they ask me to have a picture, and they say I was campaigning,” Trump said. “The one thing I get plenty of is publicity. I don’t need that.”
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, seized on the controversy to attack the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. Vance made a provocative statement, saying, “Kamala Harris can go to hell,” and blamed her for the deaths of the 13 service members, claiming she “refused to do her job.”
NPR reported that two members of Trump’s campaign staff verbally abused and pushed aside the cemetery worker when she tried to intervene. The U.S. Army noted that federal law prohibits the use of the cemetery for political campaigning, and participants had been warned of the rules in advance.
A U.S. Army spokesperson expressed regret over the incident, stating that it was “unfortunate” and that the cemetery employee’s professionalism had been unfairly attacked. The Trump campaign has denied any physical altercation took place and threatened to release footage if the claims were pursued further.
In response to the controversy, House Democrats have requested a full report from the U.S. Army detailing what transpired during the event.
