Last month, former president Donald Trump and his team visited Arlington National Cemetery where he participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate terrorist attack that left 13 American soldiers dead.
Despite the incident taking place weeks ago, the debate over the acceptability of the Trump campaign’s conduct remains ongoing. Trump’s actions have polarized veteran families, drawing both significant backlash and support for the campaign.
Trump’s team filmed the former president’s participation in the Aug. 26 ceremony and later used the footage in campaign advertisements. They later faced criticism for filming at the cemetery, particularly Section 60, an area where only cemetery staff members were authorized to take photographs or film, as reported by NPR.
Section 60 included the graves of individuals whose families, according to NPR, “did not give permission” for their loved ones to be featured in Trump’s photos.
Despite being informed on-site of photography being prohibited, and after being reminded by a cemetery employee of the rules, Trump’s team engaged in a brief altercation with the staff member. Eyewitnesses reported to NPR, the employee was “pushed aside” by campaign staff before Trump’s team continued to take footage.
The Trump campaign faced immediate backlash from presidential opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who promptly condemned the use of the ceremony’s footage in Trump’s campaign ads.
Harris asserted that the military burial site “is not a place for politics.”
According to the Trump campaign, however, no such incident took place. In a post to Truth Social, Trump responded to reports of the incident.
“It was a made-up story by Comrade Kamala and her misinformation squad,” he said in the post.
Still the Trump campaign’s conduct prompted a statement from the U.S. Army.
The Army spokesperson said in the statement that the Trump campaign had been “reminded that political activities are prohibited on cemetery grounds.”
The statement clarified that filming in Section 60 is strictly prohibited, with only cemetery staff permitted to take photographs of any graves in the area.
The spokesperson addressed the statement that the cemetery employee in question chose not to press charges.
“This incident was unfortunate, as is the unfair attack on the employee’s professionalism. ANC will continue to uphold the dignity and respect deserved by the nation’s fallen,” the spokesperson said in the statement.
Ellycia Smallie, a senior political science major and legal communications minor from Maryland, was raised in a family “deeply rooted” in military service.
Smallie’s father and stepmother both served in the Army, while her mother spent 12 years in the Navy.
She recalled a core memory from her childhood visit to Arlington with her mother.
“I… recall fondly, …her just taking it all in, just [standing] in silence, breathing heavily, staring at all the graves… You could feel the sense of heaviness that came with that… Seeing her that way… even my fourth-grade mind could comprehend… how important… a space [Arlington Cemetery] is,” Smallie said.
She continued, “Arlington Cemetery is more than just a symbol… It represents the millions of brave people who have put their lives on the line in honor of this amazing country.”
Army veteran Jim Krueck, who retired after 32 years of service as a command sergeant major for the Wisconsin National Guard, voiced strong disapproval of Trump’s actions.
“I believe…[Trump] is the most despicable person to ever serve in the U.S. government, in any capacity. I believe he used the families of fallen veterans at Arlington for his own political purposes,” he said.
Krueck continued, “His actions, especially the thumbs-up gesture over the grave of a [deceased] veteran, are appalling and disgusting.”
In one of the photos taken by the Trump campaign, the former president is seen standing over the grave of a fallen soldier, giving a thumbs-up gesture.
The name on the grave, as well as those on two others, were visible in the photograph, which was allegedly taken without the consent of any of the families of the fallen soldiers.
Krueck further expressed his dissatisfaction with the Trump campaign team’s treatment of Arlington Cemetery staff.
“To add to that, his campaign staff’s abuse of the Arlington Cemetery staff, in direct violation of the regulations he was aware of, is beyond description,” he said.
Tony Coye, who served on the Pacific Coast during his tenure with the Navy, offered a nuanced perspective, sharing that “no one really talks about Arlington Cemetery.”
He clarified, however, that he does not condone Trump’s actions.
“I don’t think [Trump] is a person who understands or follows the rules well. It shows how unattached he is to the military…,” Coye said.
Smallie expressed her thoughts on the Trump campaign’s conduct.
“I have never seen Trump as someone who has even a semblance of respect for anyone who has served this country… I don’t think he understands what that means, or how heavy of a toll that is,” she said.
Despite the criticism, the Trump campaign has garnered support from some veteran families.
Darin Hoover, a supporter of Trump, asserted that, despite eyewitness testimonies, Trump’s team did not disrespect the rules.
“[Trump’s visit] was solemn and in keeping with the reverence and respect given to all of our members of the military buried there,” he said.
Hoover made no comment regarding the names of veterans from non-consenting families being visible in photos taken by the campaign, which directly violates the federal policies designed to protect the privacy of veteran families.
Smallie called for unity and respect.
“Whether you are right, left, or whatever you identify with politically, we must respect our veterans,” she said. “We have to make sure this is never done again.”
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