The U.S. military rebuked former President Trump’s campaign on Thursday over an “unfortunate” graveside photo op at Arlington National Cemetery, extending the controversy over the politically charged incident.
Trump campaign aides “abruptly pushed aside” an Arlington National Cemetery official when she tried to enforce federal laws and cemetery rules that prohibit campaign activities in some areas of the revered Virginia burial ground.
“This employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption,” the Army said, refuting Trump aides’ claims that the official acted improperly.
The incident was reported to the police, but the employee decided not to immediately pursue the matter, reportedly because she fears retaliation from Trump or his supporters.
“This incident was unfortunate,” the Army said. “It’s also unfortunate that the (Arlington) employee and her professionalism has been attacked.”
The Army said it considered the matter closed although it remains to be seen if further investigation may take place.
The incident has raised hackles with some veterans who accuse Trump of intentionally violating federal law and showing a lack of respect for America’s slain heroes who are buried at Arlington.
Trump went to the cemetery on Monday to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony marking the third anniversary of a 2021 attack that killed 13 American service members in Afghanistan. The former president blames President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his opponent in the November election, for the chaotic withdrawal and the killings.
After the ceremony, relatives of one of the slain soldiers invited Trump to join them by the soldier’s grave, located in a sensitive part of the cemetery called Section 60 where victims of recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried.
Federal law bars campaign photographs or videos near graves and the Army says Trump aides were repeatedly informed of the prohibition.
Trump and his entourage ignored the rules and continued to the gravesite. That’s when the Arlington official tried to block them and was pushed aside, the Army said.
Trump carried out the photo op anyway and later included the footage in a TikTok post.
After news broke of the clash, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung derided the Arlington official as “clearly having a mental health episode.” Top campaign official Chris LaCivita called the Arlington staffer “despicable.”
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has downplayed the incident and said Harris can “go to hell,” despite the fact that neither she nor her campaign have commented on the incident.
The Trump campaign vowed to release video of the incident that would bolster its claim but has since refused to do so.