US Army confirms Trump camp 'unfairly attacked' cemetery worker in official statement
Monday, August 26 brought yet another controversy for Donald Trump's chaotic 2024 presidential campaign when members of his team, according to the New York Times, got into an "altercation" with an employee of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) in Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.
The incident happened when the employee objected to Trump campaign staffers shooting video in Section 60 — a heavily restricted area of Arlington where photos and videos are strictly forbidden.
Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), critics say, made matters worse when he used the incident to attack Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris — saying, "And she wants to yell at Donald Trump because he showed up? She can — she can go to hell."
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In a biting statement issued three days after the incident on August 29, CNN reports, the U.S. Army called the Trump campaign out for their treatment of the cemetery worker — stressing that they knew what the Section 60 rules were and brazenly disregarded them.
In the statement, a U.S. Army spokesperson said, "This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked. 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."
The incident was reported to police at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The U.S. Army spokesperson noted, however, that because the cemetery employee "decided not to press charges," it now "considers this matter closed."
CNN reporter Haley Britzky explains, "Trump was visiting the cemetery following a wreath laying to honor 13 U.S. military service members who were killed at Kabul Airport's Abbey Gate in Afghanistan three years ago. An individual physically blocked Trump's team from accompanying him during the Monday visit, two Trump campaign officials said. A cemetery spokesperson confirmed to CNN 'there was an incident' and a 'report was filed' but didn't provide additional details."
Britzky adds that "according to a statement from Arlington National Cemetery obtained by CNN, federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries."
"The cemetery said it 'reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants,' which includes 'photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign," the CNN journalist reports.
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Read CNN's full report at this link.
