Controversy is growing in the United States over Donald Trump's visit to Arlington Military Cemetery, with Kamala Harris accusing her Republican rival on Saturday of “disrespecting” this “sacred ground” for a number of American soldiers who died in combat.
The former president visited this cemetery near Washington on Monday for a ceremony honoring 13 soldiers killed during the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021.
An altercation took place during the visit between Donald Trump's team, which sought to photograph the event, the administration of the cemetery, where about 400,000 veterans and their families are buried, and two US presidents, including John Fitzgerald Kennedy, said Wednesday.
“Donald Trump chose to shoot a video there, which led to an altercation with cemetery staff. Let's be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for a political stunt,” the US vice president reacted to X.
An employee “suddenly pushed”
The entourage of the Republican candidate responded on Wednesday with a press release in which the military families assured that the presence of the photographers was indeed “validated” by them.
The US military, in a rare update, confirmed Thursday that an Arlington employee was “suddenly pushed” during Donald Trump's visit as he tried to enforce a federal law banning political activity inside the cemetery.
A US military spokesman lamented “an unfortunate incident” and defended the “professionalism” of the cemetery employee.
Kamala Harris once again criticized Donald Trump's attitude on Saturday, saying that the cemetery is “not a place to do politics”.
“If there's one thing we Americans can agree on, it's that our veterans, military families and soldiers should be honored, never denigrated, and treated with nothing less than our utmost respect and gratitude,” he said. she wrote.
“It is my belief that a person incapable of fulfilling this simple and sacred duty should never again be president of the United States,” the Democrat added.
Trump pleads ignorance
Donald Trump's colleague JD Vance responded on Saturday, saying: “President Trump was there at the invitation of the families whose loved ones lost their lives because of your incompetence.” »
“Why don't you get off social media and open an investigation into these needless deaths? », the senator launched on the X network.
Trump's team continues to criticize Democrats for the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Asked by MSNBC on Friday about the appropriateness of publishing a campaign video in the cemetery, Donald Trump pleaded ignorance.
“I don't know who did this,” he said, accusing the Biden administration of “planning” to create controversy.
During a meeting Friday night in Johnston, Pennsylvania, he again spoke at length about the incident, saying the families of the fallen soldiers had asked him to take a photo with him.
“I said, 'Of course,' I didn't do it to get publicity I didn't need,” he assured.