Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery visit stirs controversy

(CNN) — Former President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign stirred new controversy this week throughout a go to to Arlington Nationwide Cemetery that was meant to attract consideration to the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

A person bodily blocked Trump’s crew from accompanying him in the course of the Monday go to, two Trump marketing campaign officers stated. A cemetery spokesperson confirmed to CNN “there was an incident” and a “report was filed” however didn’t present further particulars.

Trump was visiting the cemetery following a wreath laying to honor 13 US navy service members who had been killed at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate. The Trump marketing campaign posted a video on TikTok of the previous president’s go to, which marked three years for the reason that tragedy.

In a put up on Reality Social, Trump appeared to recommend the incident stemmed from his marketing campaign’s use of images, sharing a press release from the relations of the fallen troopers expressing their approval.

“We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the occasion, making certain these sacred moments of remembrance had been respectfully captured and so we are able to cherish these recollections perpetually,” the households stated.

However in line with a press release from Arlington Nationwide Cemetery obtained by CNN, federal legislation prohibits political marketing campaign or election-related actions inside Military Nationwide Army Cemeteries.

The cemetery stated it “strengthened and extensively shared this legislation and its prohibitions with all contributors,” which incorporates “photographers, content material creators or some other individuals attending for functions, or in direct assist of a partisan political candidate’s marketing campaign.”

Trump’s put up got here after a report from NPR a few “verbal and bodily altercation.” A supply with data of the incident instructed the outlet {that a} cemetery official tried to forestall Trump’s crew from photographing and filming within the space the place current US casualties are buried. In response, Trump marketing campaign workers “verbally abused and pushed the official apart,” in line with NPR.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed claims of a bodily altercation, however stated an unnamed particular person determined to “bodily block members of President Trump’s crew throughout a really solemn ceremony.” Cheung steered that Trump’s crew has video to again up the declare.

Trump marketing campaign supervisor Chris LaCivita shared an identical account with CNN, saying in a press release that “President Trump was there on the invitation of the Abbey Gate Gold Star Households to honor their family members who gave the last word sacrifice for his or her nation.”

“For a despicable particular person to bodily stop President Trump’s crew from accompanying him to this solemn occasion is a shame and doesn’t should characterize the hollowed [sic] grounds of Arlington Nationwide Cemetery. Whoever this particular person is spreading these lies are dishonoring the women and men of our armed forces, and they’re disrespecting everybody who paid the worth for defending our nation,” LaCivita continued.

Trump’s working mate, Sen. JD Vance, dismissed the incident as a “little disagreement” and stated the households had “invited (Trump) to be there and to assist them.”

“There’s verifiable proof that the marketing campaign was allowed to have a photographer there,” Vance instructed reporters Wednesday in Erie, Pennsylvania, the place he was campaigning. “There’s verifiable proof that the households of those poor individuals who had their family members die three years in the past at Abbey Highway – excuse me, Abbey Gate. These 13 Individuals, a variety of them had been there with the president.”

Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly known as for Arlington Cemetery management to publicly launch the report on the incident on the go to, casting doubt on Trump’s intentions and calling his crew’s conduct “abhorrent and shameful.”

“I urge Arlington Cemetery to publicly launch all that transpired yesterday so the American folks can guarantee the bottom through which our nation’s heroes are buried isn’t being debased by a person who has no idea of service and sacrifice,” the congressman stated.

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