Former President Donald Trump joins Marlon Bateman (left), Marine Corporal Kelsee Lainhart and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Tyler Vargas-Andrews during a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on August 26 to honor those killed in the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan.
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Former President Donald Trump denied to Turesday that there was an altercation or “crossfire” during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery last week, calling it a “made-up story,” though Army officials said one of their personnel “was abruptly pushed aside by Trump campaign officials.”
“That is a fabricated story by comrade Kamala and her disinformation team,” Trump said. posted on his website Truth Social using the nickname he gave to Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate. “She made it all up to make up for the fact that she and Sleepy Joe HAD BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS over the Pointless AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL – THE MOST SHAMEFUL DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!”
Meanwhile, members of Congress are demanding details about the incident, First reported by NPR.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, wrote to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, requesting an incident report from Arlington as well as a press conference.
“Although the incident was reported to the Joint Base-Myer-Henderson Hall police department, the report shows that the employee declined to pursue charges out of fear of retaliation from Trump supporters,” Raskin wrote.
Last week, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, also said he wanted the Army to provide a report on the incident.
“This incident is regrettable and it is unfortunate that an ANC employee and her professionalism have been unfairly attacked,” Kaine said in a statement.
Harris issued a statement over the weekend, saying Arlington Cemetery is “no place for politics.” She wrote that Trump “has desecrated sacred ground, all for political gain.”
President Biden, when asked by reporters about the incident, said “I don’t want to answer because I might tell you what I think,”
Trump visited Arlington Cemetery on August 26 at the invitation of several Gold Star families whose loved ones were killed at Abbey Gate at Kabul International Airport while U.S. forces were evacuating Afghan allies. Thirteen service members were killed after an Islamic State militant detonated a bomb that also killed more than 170 Afghan civilians three years ago.
The military said in a statement that Trump campaign officials violated cemetery regulations and federal law by taking photos and videos at Section 60, where people killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are buried.
“Participants in the August 26 ceremony and subsequent Section 60 visit were informed of federal law, Army regulations and Department of Defence policy, which expressly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds,” the statement said. “An ANC staff member who attempted to ensure compliance with these rules was abruptly pushed aside. Consistent with the courtesy expected at the ANC, this staff member acted professionally and avoided causing further disruption.”
The Army statement added that it considers the case closed because the employee did not file a lawsuit. NPR has identified the Trump campaign officials allegedly involved in the case and has reached out to them for comment. They have not yet responded.
After the Arlington visit, the Trump campaign said the cemetery worker was “clearly suffering from mental health issues” and promised to release footage of the encounter but has so far refused to do so.
Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, also criticized cemetery staff.
“The despicable individual who prevented President Trump’s delegation from accompanying him to this solemn event is a disgrace and unworthy to represent Arlington National Cemetery,” he said in a written statement, misspelling the word hallowed. “Regardless of who this individual is, spreading these lies is a disgrace to the men and women of our armed forces.”
A source familiar with the event said the cemetery staff worked with the staff of Republican Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, who joined Trump in Arlington. The Arlington Cemetery staff worked directly with Mast’s chief of staff, James Langenderfer, briefing him on the rules, including that there would be no campaign events at the cemetery. They also reiterated that only an official Arlington National Cemetery photographer — and no campaign photographers — would be used at Section 60. The source said Langenderfer told them that the Trump campaign had agreed to the rules. NPR reached out to Mast’s staff and asked if Langenderfer was briefed and passed that information on to the Trump campaign. They did not answer questions, instead issuing a statement that read: “President Trump did not conduct any political activities at Arlington National Cemetery.”
This is not the first time Trump has been accused of politicizing the military for personal gain. He has been accused of referring to dead soldiers as ““idiot” and “loser”” insulting the late Senator John McCain for being a prisoner of war and recently controversial for saying that civilians who receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom are much better off than those who receive the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military award, which is usually awarded posthumously.
