Vice President Kamala Harris condemned former President Donald Trump and his marketing campaign for disrespecting a “sacred floor, all for the sake of a political stunt.”
In a publish on X, the Democrat Occasion nominee mentioned Arlington Nationwide Cemetery is a “place the place we come collectively to honor American heroes” and it’s “not a spot for politics.”
These are Harris’ first feedback because it was reported that an altercation between a feminine cemetery official and a Trump marketing campaign staffer on Monday. Trump took half in a wreath-laying ceremony on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate three years because the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was joined by Gold Star households whose relations died.
“And but, as was reported this week, Donald Trump’s group selected to movie a video there, leading to an altercation with cemetery employees,” Harris mentioned on Saturday. “Let me be clear: the previous president disrespected sacred floor, all for the sake of a political stunt.”
She added: “If there may be one factor on which we as People can all agree, it’s that our veterans, navy households, and repair members needs to be honored, by no means disparaged, and handled with nothing lower than our highest respect and gratitude.”
The Trump marketing campaign and Arlington Nationwide Cemetery officers differ on what precisely occurred.
Totally different experiences, identical incident
The Trump marketing campaign mentioned they have been explicitly granted permission to convey “marketing campaign designated media” to Part 60 of the cemetery by the Gold Star households. Messages reviewed by CBS Information confirmed that the marketing campaign was given direct permission by the households.
Nevertheless, the principles at Military Nationwide Navy Cemeteries are dictated by federal legislation which prohibits any filming for partisan, political or fundraising functions, in line with Arlington Nationwide Cemetery media insurance policies, even when there are requests by relations of the fallen.
An Military spokesperson mentioned all individuals have been made conscious of the federal legal guidelines forward of Monday’s incident.
“An ANC worker who tried to make sure adherence to those guidelines was abruptly pushed apart,” the Military mentioned. “In step with the decorum anticipated at ANC, this worker acted with professionalism and averted additional disruption.”
The incident was reported to the navy police division by the Arlington Cemetery worker, who determined to not press fees. The Military informed CBS Information that it considers the matter closed.
The Trump marketing campaign’s communications director, Steven Cheung informed CBS Information in a press release that there was “no bodily altercation” and that they’re ready to launch footage.
“The actual fact is {that a} non-public photographer was permitted on the premises and for no matter motive an unnamed particular person, clearly affected by a psychological well being episode, determined to bodily block members of President Trump’s group throughout a really solemn ceremony,” the assertion mentioned.
Republicans take intention at Harris, Dems need solutions
In a publish on X responding to Harris, Trump’s working mate Sen. JD Vance mentioned: “President Trump was there on the invitation of households whose family members died due to your incompetence. Why do not you get off social media and go launch an investigation into their pointless deaths?”
In the meantime, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton praised Trump, saying Gold Star households had each proper to ask “whomever they wished to commemorate this solemn anniversary.”
“The true scandal is that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden condemned 13 courageous American troops to dying and did not even have the decency to name or meet with the Gold Star households to specific their condolences,” the Arkansas senator mentioned in a press release launched by Trump’s marketing campaign.
In her personal publish on X, Trump marketing campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt blasted Harris, blaming the vice chairman for the deaths throughout the withdrawal.
“Kamala’s stupidity led to probably the most embarrassing occasions in American historical past and 13 courageous US troopers being killed. She has by no means mentioned their names. She has by no means reached out to their households,” she mentioned. “For this alone, Kamala doesn’t need to be elected. Kamala has already confirmed that she could be a dangerously incompetent Commander in Chief.”
In the meantime, Democratic lawmakers with the Home Oversight Committee despatched a letter to the U.S. Military requesting a “full account” of the incident on the cemetery.
“It seems that the Trump marketing campaign—which arrived on the Cemetery with a photographer and videographer—fully flouted the legal guidelines and guidelines they have been knowledgeable of and filmed footage within the restricted space to be used in a political TikTok video,” Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wrote in a letter to Military Secretary Christine Wormuth.
Raskin requested a response from Wormuth by Sept. 9.
Faris Tanyos,
,
Kathryn Watson,
,
and
Eleanor Watson
contributed to this report.