Army says Arlington National Cemetery worker was ‘pushed aside’ by Trump aides

Up to date August 29, 2024 at 11:53 AM ET

The U.S. Military mentioned an worker at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery who tried to “guarantee adherence” to guidelines that prohibit political actions on the cemetery “was abruptly pushed apart,” however that the worker determined to not press expenses towards the Trump marketing campaign staffers who allegedly pushed her.

The assertion Thursday is available in response to NPR’s reporting on former President Donald Trump’s go to to Arlington and an altercation his workers had with a cemetery worker.

“Members within the August twenty sixth ceremony and the next Part 60 go to have been made conscious of federal legal guidelines, Military rules and DoD insurance policies, which clearly prohibit political actions on cemetery grounds,” the assertion mentioned. “An ANC worker who tried to make sure adherence to those guidelines was abruptly pushed apart. In keeping with the decorum anticipated at ANC, this worker acted with professionalism and prevented additional disruption. The incident was reported to the JBM-HH police division, however the worker subsequently determined to not press expenses. Due to this fact, the Military considers this matter closed.”

The Military, in its assertion, known as the incident “unlucky,” including: “additionally it is unlucky that the ANC worker and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked.”

The assertion comes a day after Trump shared a TikTok video together with footage from Arlington Nationwide Cemetery that seemingly violates a federal legislation towards utilizing navy cemeteries for campaigning functions.

NPR reported Trump marketing campaign staffers had a bodily altercation with an Arlington Nationwide Cemetery staffer on Monday over the restriction.

It’s not the primary time Trump has been accused of politicizing the navy, however the marketing campaign is in search of to downplay what occurred within the aftermath.

Trump was at Arlington Monday to commemorate the third anniversary of an assault in Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. servicemembers amidst the disastrous withdrawal of troops. Trump and different Republicans have blamed President Biden and Vice President Harris for the chaos and lack of life.

The 21-second video exhibits Trump laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a number of other snippets of Trump becoming a member of Gold Star members of the family at gravesites of their family members in part of the cemetery referred to as Part 60.

“We misplaced 13 nice nice folks, what a horrible day it was,” Trump says over somber music. “We didn’t lose one particular person in 18 months after which they took over the catastrophe, the leaving of Afghanistan.”

However the Trump marketing campaign was not licensed to movie or {photograph} in Part 60, federal legislation prohibits the usage of navy cemeteries for marketing campaign occasions, and two marketing campaign staffers obtained in a bodily and verbal altercation with the Arlington staffer that attempted to stop the filming.

In a press release after NPR’s authentic story, members of the family current Monday mentioned they invited Trump and gave approval for his photographer and videographer to doc an emotional second of remembrance.

A few of these members of the family additionally spoke on the Republican Nationwide Conference, bashing Biden and vocally endorsing Trump.

“Joe Biden might have forgotten that our youngsters died, however we’ve not forgotten, Donald Trump has not forgotten,” mentioned Cheryl Juels in Milwaukee on the RNC in July. Juels is the aunt of Sgt. Nicole Gee, one of many 13 killed at Abbey Gate in 2021.

“Joe Biden owes the women and men that served in Afghanistan a debt of gratitude and an apology. Donald Trump loves this nation and can always remember the sacrifice and bravado of our service members,” she added. “Be part of us in placing him again within the White Home.”

Although the family members mentioned they have been OK with the cameras current, the households shouldn’t have the facility to droop the principles.

NPR has additionally discovered the household of a Inexperienced Beret who died by suicide, whose gravestone is seen in photos and movies posted by the marketing campaign, didn’t give permission to be included.

The Trump marketing campaign responds

Within the aftermath of the go to to Arlington, the Trump marketing campaign response has taken on a tone of nastiness. One spokesman mentioned the cemetery staffer was “clearly affected by a psychological well being episode,” promising to launch footage of the encounter however to date declining to take action.

On the marketing campaign path in Pennsylvania Wednesday, the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, mentioned Harris may “go to hell” over the Afghanistan withdrawal and blamed reporters for the marketing campaign’s controversy that he known as a “disagreement.”

“You guys within the media, you are appearing like Donald Trump filmed a TV business at a gravesite,” Vance mentioned. “He was there offering emotional assist to lots of courageous People who misplaced family members they by no means ought to have misplaced. And there occurred to be a digital camera there, and someone gave him permission to have that digital camera there.”

In the meantime, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who attended the Arlington occasions with Trump, apologized in a social media put up for sending a marketing campaign fundraising e mail with a photograph of him and the previous president in Part 60 with the household of Workers Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover.

Cox’s official gubernatorial X account posted a photograph from the restricted space, and the put up remains to be on-line.

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