Trump and Harris
The ongoing controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery took a sharp turn this weekend as Vice President Kamala Harris directly criticized the former president. The visit, which was intended to honor 13 U.S. service members killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, has sparked a heated debate over the appropriateness of Trump’s actions at the cemetery, with Harris accusing him of prioritizing self-interest over the dignity and respect owed to the fallen.
On Saturday, Harris released a pointed statement on social media, condemning Trump for what she perceived as his inability to understand or fulfill the solemn duty of honoring veterans and their families. “Veterans, service members, and their families should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude,” Harris wrote. “It is my belief that someone who cannot meet this simple, sacred duty should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States of America.”
Trump’s visit to Arlington on Monday, which included a wreath-laying ceremony, quickly became mired in controversy. The ceremony was intended to commemorate the service members who lost their lives in Kabul, but Trump’s campaign’s use of video and images from the visit drew criticism for allegedly violating rules against political activity on the sacred grounds. The U.S. Army, which oversees Arlington National Cemetery, issued a statement clarifying that participants in the ceremony were made aware of federal laws regarding political activity. The statement also noted that a cemetery employee who attempted to enforce these rules was “abruptly pushed aside.”
In response to Harris’ criticism, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to share videos of parents of the fallen service members, who voiced their support for him while condemning Harris and President Joe Biden. Jaclyn Schmitz, mother of Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, directly addressed Harris in one of the videos, stating, “Kamala, your statement is nothing more than a political spin to help you look better in your presidential campaign against Donald Trump. You have never walked a single day in our shoes. Our kids were murdered because of your administration, and you are partly to blame.”
Another grieving parent, Coral Doolittle, mother of Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, echoed similar sentiments. She criticized Harris and Biden for their handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which she believes directly led to the deaths of her son and his comrades. “They called the withdrawal in Afghanistan a success, and for us, it was just sadness and a disgrace,” Doolittle said.
Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, also defended Trump’s actions during the cemetery visit, stating that the events were “solemn and in keeping with the reverence and respect that is given to all members of our military that are buried there.” Hoover added that it was the families themselves who requested the Trump team to document their time at Arlington.
This incident marks the first time Harris has directly addressed the controversy, as she seeks to contrast her leadership style with Trump’s ahead of their September 10 debate. Michael Tyler, the communications director for Harris’ campaign, previously described the incident as “pretty sad” during an interview on CNN, noting that it is the kind of behavior people have “come to expect from Donald Trump and his team.”
The Trump campaign has also rallied support from allies, including Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, an Army veteran who defended Trump and criticized Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. Cotton, who was not present during the cemetery visit, claimed that neither Trump nor the families violated cemetery regulations, and accused what he described as “political apparatchiks” in the Army of disrespecting the wishes of the Gold Star families.
Accounts of what transpired at Arlington vary. While Trump’s campaign officials claim that a cemetery employee physically blocked them from accompanying the former president, a cemetery spokesperson confirmed that there was an incident and that a report was filed. The campaign has maintained that there were no violations of the law, though cemetery officials have emphasized that Trump’s team was informed ahead of time about the restrictions on political activity.
NPR was the first to report on the altercation, citing a source who described a cemetery official’s attempts to prevent Trump’s team from photographing and filming in areas where recent U.S. casualties are buried. According to the report, Trump’s staff allegedly “verbally abused and pushed the official aside,” though no charges were filed as the employee chose not to press the matter further.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it highlights the deep divisions and tensions that persist between Trump and his political rivals. With both Trump and Harris gearing up for their upcoming debate, this incident is likely to be a focal point in the ongoing battle for public opinion as the 2024 election season intensifies.