Trump Targets Kamala Harris During Arlington Cemetery Controversy

Donald Trump recently shifted attention from a contentious incident at Arlington National Cemetery to accusations aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris. Following an alleged altercation involving his staff during a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the service members lost in the 2021 Kabul Abbey Gate suicide bombing, Trump asserted that Harris and President Biden were responsible for the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghans. On Truth Social, he declared, “They owe the families, and our Country, a very big apology.”

This post came after reports of a confrontation on August 26, where Trump’s team was said to have clashed with a cemetery official attempting to enforce rules against filming political activities in military cemeteries, as mandated by federal law.

Ohio Senator JD Vance, who is also Trump’s running mate for 2024, contributed to the critique, accusing Harris of negligence regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal. “To have those 13 Americans lose their lives and not fire a single person is disgraceful,” Vance asserted during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania.

In response to the cemetery incident, the U.S. Army indicated that an employee was “abruptly pushed aside” by Trump’s staff but opted against pressing charges. Representative Gerry Connolly labeled the staff’s behavior as “abhorrent and shameful,” urging the cemetery to publicize a report on the incident.

Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, emphasized that Arlington is not a suitable venue for political maneuvering. Former Trump aide Alyssa Farah Griffin criticized a TikTok video of the ceremony as “disgraceful.” However, families of five fallen service members stated they had approved the presence of Trump’s photographer and videographer.

A Pentagon investigation from February 2022 determined that the Abbey Gate bomber acted alone, using over 20 pounds of explosives. The Biden administration faced criticism over the perceived chaos during the Afghanistan evacuation.

On a separate note, the White House released a statement from President Biden on the anniversary of the deaths of the 13 service members, acknowledging their bravery and commitment, and vowing to honor their sacrifices.