WASHINGTON — Vice chairman Kamala Harris said former President Donald Trump “disrespected sacred ground” in his latest appearance at Arlington National Cemetery, in which the Republican nominee took and distributed photos Irrespective of a federal prohibition on marketing campaign action about the grounds.
Harris, in an announcement posted Saturday about the social websites platform X, cited reviews that Trump's campaign aides created an altercation with a cemetery staffer and proceeded to take photos and movie the former president, such as in the graves of Afghanistan war veterans, following being warned about rules at the positioning.
“Let me be clear: the previous president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of the political stunt,” Harris mentioned, calling Arlington a “solemn position the place we arrive together to honor American heroes ... not a spot for politics.”
The original incident stemmed from Trump’s and Republicans’ ongoing criticism of President Joe Biden and now Harris for your chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. At the invitation of some relatives of provider members killed in the withdrawal, Trump laid wreaths previous Monday in honor of Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover and Staff members Sgt. Ryan Knauss. They had been among the 13 U.S. company associates and much more than one hundred Afghans who died within an Aug. 26, 2021, bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Trump’s marketing campaign was warned about not having pictures right before an altercation on the cemetery, In keeping with defense officials. Officers have said considering that that an Arlington staff whom two Trump campaign personnel users allegedly “verbally abused and pushed” aside has declined to press fees. The Trump marketing campaign has because lashed out at Pentagon officials, that has a top campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, referring to navy spokespersons as “hacks.” Trump marketing campaign officers say it experienced permission to carry another person to take video clip.
Considering that Biden finished his reelection bid, Trump has long been zeroing in on Harris and her roles in foreign policy decisions. He has especially highlighted the vice chairman’s statements that she was the last particular person from the place right here before Biden made the decision on Afghanistan.
Biden’s administration was following a withdrawal commitment and timeline which the Trump administration experienced negotiated While using the Taliban in 2020. A 2022 review by a government-appointed Unique investigator concluded decisions produced by both of those Trump and Biden were being the key factors bringing about the swift collapse of Afghanistan’s armed service plus the Taliban takeover.
Harris on Saturday alluded to Trump's historical past of choosing fights with veterans and repeated allegations that he has “termed our fallen assistance customers ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ and disparaged Medal of Honor recipients.”
“This can be a man that's not able to comprehend just about anything in addition to provider to himself,” Harris mentioned. “I'll constantly honor the support and sacrifice of all of America’s fallen heroes. ... And that i will never politicize them.”