Arlington Cemetery controversy deepens as Trump, Harris trade attacks

Donald Trump on Saturday again defended his visit to Arlington National Cemetery, despite mounting criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris, among others. She said the former president “cannot understand anything other than self-service.”

Veterans, service members and their families “must be honored, never belittled, and treated with nothing less than our utmost respect and gratitude,” Harris wrote in a lengthy social media post Saturday.

“And I am confident that any person who fails in this simple, sacred duty should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States of America.”

Trump faced controversy for visiting the cemetery after a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the 13 U.S. service members killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.

Trump has been criticized by the military for his campaign’s use of video and photos of the visit, which critics say violated rules prohibiting political activity on sacred ground.

According to the military, participants in the ceremony were “advised of federal laws” regarding political activity and a cemetery employee who “attempted to ensure compliance with these rules was abruptly pushed aside.”

After Harris’ statement, the former president emphasized the support of parents of military personnel killed in the airport bombing.

In videos posted to Truth Social, the parents praised Trump while condemning Harris and President Joe Biden.

Jaclyn Schmitz, mother of Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, said in her video: “Kamala, your statement is nothing more than a political spin to make you look better in your presidential campaign against Donald Trump. You have never walked a day in our shoes. Our children have been murdered because of your administration, and you are partly responsible for that.”

Similarly, Coral Doolittle, the mother of Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, criticized Harris and Biden as the people responsible for “the murder of our children.”

“They called the withdrawal from Afghanistan a success, but for us it was just sadness and shame,” Doolittle added.

Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, said in another video that “the events that occurred on August 26, 2024, with President Trump at Arlington National Cemetery were solemn and in keeping with the reverence and respect given to all members of our military who are buried there.”

Hoover said at the cemetery: “We asked Trump’s team to take videos and photographs of our time there.”

Saturday’s statement marks the first time the vice president has addressed the controversy directly, as she attempts to draw a contrast between herself and her rival in preparation for their Sept. 10 debate.

Michael Tyler, Harris’ campaign communications director, previously called the incident “pretty sad” in an interview with CNN, but said it’s what people “expect from Donald Trump and his team.”

The Trump campaign also released a statement Saturday from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, an Army veteran and Trump ally, defending the former president and attacking Defense Secretary Christine Wormuth.

Cotton, who was not present during Trump’s visit to the cemetery, said that “neither the families nor President Trump violated the rules or policies of the cemetery” and alleged that the “political apparatchiks working for the incompetent Secretary of Defense failed to respect the wishes of these Gold Star families.”

Accounts of Monday’s incident vary.

Trump campaign officials have said someone physically restrained the former president’s team as he accompanied him on the visit. A spokesperson for the cemetery confirmed to CNN that “there was an incident” and that “a report has been filed.”

The campaign has maintained that no violations of law were committed, while cemetery officials say Trump’s team was told in advance not to engage in political activities.

According to a statement from Arlington National Cemetery obtained by CNN, federal law prohibits political campaigning or election activities at Army National Military Cemeteries.

A video of the visit, posted to TikTok by the Trump campaign earlier this week, showed the former president walking through Arlington and visiting graves. He was also heard on audio criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

NPR first reported that there had been a “verbal and physical altercation” during the visit to the cemetery.

A source with knowledge of the incident told the newspaper that a cemetery administrator tried to prevent Trump’s team from taking photos and filming in the area where recent American casualties are buried.

According to NPR, Trump campaign staff responded by verbally abusing the official and pushing him aside.

An Army spokesman said that while the incident was reported to police at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the employee involved “has decided not to press charges,” so the Army “considers this matter closed.”