New Controversy Surrounds Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery Visit
A visit by former President Donald Trump to Arlington National Cemetery this week has ignited fresh controversy, primarily centered around his campaign’s activities during the visit. Trump attended the cemetery to commemorate the third anniversary of the tragic deaths of 13 US military service members at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
According to Trump campaign officials, an individual physically obstructed Trump’s team from accompanying him during the visit. The cemetery confirmed that an incident occurred and a report was filed, but did not disclose further specifics. The controversy appears to stem from disputes over photography and video recording at the cemetery, which is strictly regulated.
Trump, using his Truth Social platform, implied that the dispute was related to his campaign’s use of photography. He posted a statement from the families of the fallen soldiers expressing their approval of having official documentation of the event. However, Arlington National Cemetery’s policies explicitly prohibit political campaign activities, including photography and filming for partisan purposes, within the cemetery grounds.
Federal law forbids campaign-related activities at Army National Military Cemeteries, a regulation the cemetery said it had reinforced to all participants. This includes any form of media or content creation that supports political candidates.
The situation escalated after NPR reported a “verbal and physical altercation” between Trump’s team and a cemetery official. Sources indicated that a cemetery official attempted to stop Trump’s team from filming in areas where recent casualties are buried. Trump campaign staff allegedly responded by “verbally abusing and pushing the official aside.”
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung denied claims of a physical confrontation but confirmed that a person blocked Trump’s team from attending the ceremony. Cheung suggested that Trump’s team might have video evidence supporting their account.
Trump’s campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, defended Trump’s visit, emphasizing that it was conducted with the invitation of the Abbey Gate Gold Star Families. LaCivita criticized the actions of the individual who blocked Trump’s team as a disgrace, arguing that it was inappropriate for someone representing the cemetery.
