Army Responds To Alleged Incident At Cemetery; Team Trump, Gold Star Families Fire Back

The U.S. Army responded to an incident that allegedly happened this week when Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) to commemorate the lives of the 13 American soldiers who were killed by an Islamic suicide bombing during the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony for the fallen soldiers before joining the Gold Star families to visit Section 60 of the cemetery — an area reserved for soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The former president was joined by his photographer and videographer when an unnamed cemetery worker reportedly tried to “physically block” Trump’s team from accompanying him and stop them from filming and photographing in Section 60. The worker was reportedly brushed aside so Trump’s team could stay with him.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said that the cemetery worker was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode.”

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Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita, who was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Gulf War in 1991, said that the cemetery worker was “a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.”

The altercation was reported to the police, but the cemetery worker did not press charges.

The U.S. Army, under the command of the Biden-Harris administration, took the highly unusual step of releasing a statement on a matter of this nature, saying that ANC “conducts nearly 3,000 such public ceremonies a year without incident.”

“Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds,” the statement said.

The Army claimed that the cemetery worker “acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption.”

“This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked,” the statement said. “ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve.”

However, Cheung posted a statement that Trump’s team received from ANC about media guidance and rules surrounding the event, saying that Trump was allowed to have his media team with him.

“Only former President Trump may have an official photographer and/or videographer outside of the main media pool,” the statement said. “If any of the other attendees DVs would like to bring media, they must arrive at 7:00 a.m. and be incorporated into the press pool. We recommend against bringing additional media due to limited space available in the press pool.”

Furthermore, President Joe Biden, while serving as vice president in the Obama administration, had his media team with him while visiting ANC’s Section 60 in 2010. Biden subsequently used the footage in an advertisement for his 2020 presidential campaign.

To all the members of our military and our military families, especially those who have lost their service member, thank you. We owe you. We can never lessen the magnitude of your loss, but this I can promise you: we will never forget. #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/b5vDrYiPL5

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 25, 2020

Gold Star families who attended the event with Trump said in a statement that they gave Trump’s team permission to be with them as they visited Section 60 and to take photos and record video. They specifically mentioned that Trump and his team showed the highest level of respect to their fallen sons and daughters.

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“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to President Donald J. Trump for his presence at the recent Section 60 gathering, honoring our children and their fallen brothers and sisters,” the families said in a statement. “On the three-year anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, the president and his team conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity for all of our Service members, especially our beloved children.”

“We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever,” they concluded. “We are deeply grateful to the president for taking the time to honor our children and for standing alongside us in our grief, offering his unwavering support during such a difficult time. His compassion and respect meant more than words can express.”

Biden did not attend the ceremony of the 13 American soldiers who were killed during his withdrawal — a withdrawal that Vice President Kamala Harris signed off on — and instead opted to go on vacation in Delaware.

Harris also did not attend the ceremony.