Fresh controversy brews over Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery visit

This was the scene at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, former President Donald Trump laying flowers at *** grave site. He was there to honor 13 us military service members killed in the attack at the airport in Kabul Afghanistan three years ago, not seen here. *** controversial incident where in an effort to enforce cemetery rules, an individual physically blocked Trump's team from accompanying him to part of the cemetery. N PR which first reported on the incident says it happened in section 60 of the cemetery where recent American casualties are buried. According to N PR, *** cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming the former president there that *** physical and verbal altercation ensued and that the Trump staff quote, verbally abused and pushed the official aside *** report which the Harris Tim Wall's campaign pounced on. This is well sad. It's not surprising coming from the Trump team. I think it's part of what the American people have come to reject when it comes to Donald Trump. The Trump campaign disputes the account of *** physical altercation. Trump's campaign manager called the person who blocked Trump's team quote despicable today. Trump shared *** statement from the gold star families of those killed in the so called Abbey Gate attack in Kabul saying, quote, we had given our approval for President Trump's official videographer and photographer to attend the event. The cemetery issued *** statement saying federal law prohibits political or election related activities on its grounds. It is the final resting place and therefore it is hallowed and sacred ground. People go there reflect they dedicate time to their loved ones. The Trump campaign says the former president was there simply to honor those killed. But this comes after several other controversies surrounding Trump and the military. He recently said the presidential medal of freedom given to civilians was quote much better than the medal of honor. Everyone gets the congressional medal of honor that soldiers, they're either in very bad shape because they've been hit so many times by bullets or they're dead. Trump once said this about Republican senator and former Vietnam Pow, John mccain, he's not *** war hero. He's *** war years, he's *** war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured. And the Atlantic reported that in 2018, Trump referred to American soldiers who died in world war, I as losers and suckers. Trump denied making those comments. But analysts say all of this has hurt him politically. It was harmful the way he talked on and off the record about veterans. He underperformed in key areas around military bases

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign stirred new controversy this week during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery that was intended to draw attention to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.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.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. The Trump campaign posted a video on TikTok of the former president’s visit, which marked three years since the tragedy.In a post on Truth Social, Trump appeared to suggest the incident stemmed from his campaign’s use of photography, sharing a statement from the family members of the fallen soldiers expressing their approval.“We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever,” the families said.But 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.”Trump’s post came after a report from NPR about a “verbal and physical altercation.” A source with knowledge of the incident told the outlet that a cemetery official attempted to prevent Trump’s team from photographing and filming in the area where recent U.S. casualties are buried. In response, Trump campaign staff “verbally abused and pushed the official aside,” according to NPR.Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed claims of a physical altercation, but said an unnamed individual decided to “physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony.” Cheung suggested that Trump’s team has video to back up the claim.Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita shared a similar account with CNN, saying in a statement that “President Trump was there on the invitation of the Abbey Gate Gold Star Families to honor their loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”“For a despicable individual to physically prevent President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this solemn event is a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hollowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. Whoever this individual is spreading these lies are dishonoring the men and women of our armed forces, and they are disrespecting everyone who paid the price for defending our country,” LaCivita continued.Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, dismissed the incident as a “little disagreement” and said the families had “invited (Trump) to be there and to support them.”“There’s verifiable evidence that the campaign was allowed to have a photographer there,” Vance told reporters Wednesday in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was campaigning. “There’s verifiable evidence that the families of these poor people who had their loved ones die three years ago at Abbey Road – excuse me, Abbey Gate. Those 13 Americans, a lot of them were there with the president.”Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly called for Arlington Cemetery leadership to publicly release the report on the incident at the visit, casting doubt on Trump’s intentions and calling his team’s behavior “abhorrent and shameful.”“I urge Arlington Cemetery to publicly release all that transpired yesterday so the American people can ensure the ground in which our nation’s heroes are buried is not being debased by a man who has no concept of service and sacrifice,” the congressman said. CNN’s Kit Maher and Rashard Rose contributed to this report.

ARLINGTON, Va. —

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.

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. The Trump campaign posted a of the former president’s visit, which marked three years since the tragedy.

In a on Truth Social, Trump appeared to suggest the incident stemmed from his campaign’s use of photography, sharing a statement from the family members of the fallen soldiers expressing their approval.

“We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever,” the families said.

But 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.”

Trump’s post came after a from NPR about a “verbal and physical altercation.” A source with knowledge of the incident told the outlet that a cemetery official attempted to prevent Trump’s team from photographing and filming in the area where recent U.S. casualties are buried. In response, Trump campaign staff “verbally abused and pushed the official aside,” according to NPR.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed claims of a physical altercation, but said an unnamed individual decided to “physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony.” Cheung suggested that Trump’s team has video to back up the claim.

Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita shared a similar account with CNN, saying in a statement that “President Trump was there on the invitation of the Abbey Gate Gold Star Families to honor their loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”

“For a despicable individual to physically prevent President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this solemn event is a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hollowed [sic] grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. Whoever this individual is spreading these lies are dishonoring the men and women of our armed forces, and they are disrespecting everyone who paid the price for defending our country,” LaCivita continued.

Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, dismissed the incident as a “little disagreement” and said the families had “invited (Trump) to be there and to support them.”

“There’s verifiable evidence that the campaign was allowed to have a photographer there,” Vance told reporters Wednesday in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was campaigning. “There’s verifiable evidence that the families of these poor people who had their loved ones die three years ago at Abbey Road – excuse me, Abbey Gate. Those 13 Americans, a lot of them were there with the president.”

Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly called for Arlington Cemetery leadership to publicly release the report on the incident at the visit, casting doubt on Trump’s intentions and calling his team’s behavior “abhorrent and shameful.”

“I urge Arlington Cemetery to publicly release all that transpired yesterday so the American people can ensure the ground in which our nation’s heroes are buried is not being debased by a man who has no concept of service and sacrifice,” the congressman said.

CNN’s Kit Maher and Rashard Rose contributed to this report.

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