US Army releases statement on Arlington Cemetery incident, Trump campaign responds

The Trump campaign is responding to a statement from the US Army about an incident at Arlington Cemetery this past week that involved a possible altercation with campaign officials, staff and breach of rules over campaign events.

A U.S. veteran and former member of the Presidential Honor Guard defended former President Trump's appearance at Arlington National Cemetery this week amid reports of an altercation between Arlington staff and the Trump campaign.

The veteran, Lucas O’Hara, said on social media that he worked at Arlington for three years during his time in the military, and he lauded Trump's composure at the event. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is facing criticism following reports that cemetery staff warned them not to take photographs at the Monday event.

"I have witnessed over 75 wreath laying ceremonies performed by politicians and conducted 524 funerals in this cemetery during the time I served in the Presidential Honor Guard for three years. What I got to witness yesterday was the most respectful and solemn ceremony I have seen," O'Hara wrote.

"There were no speeches, no angles, no weird photo ops just our elected officials and the 45th President respectfully and solemnly honoring the fallen and their families," he added.

The Monday event honored the 13 U.S. service members who were killed while defending the Kabul airport during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Several parents of the service members released a statement saying they had approved a Trump campaign photographer to record the event.

A report from NPR says two Trump campaign staff members "verbally abused and pushed" a cemetery official who tried to stop them from filming and taking photos. A defense official also told The Associated Press that the campaign was warned by cemetery staff not to take photographs at the event.

"Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign," a cemetery official said in a statement. "Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants. We can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed."

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[janetselman]

If its so bad to take a picture of a grave at Arlington then why is the media outlets showing the headstones .

[joseelmarijuano]

I wake up in the mornings and remember I'm not in a dream and this stuff is actually happening to our country. This country is losing control .

[dsc]

They can never produce the person who said it or that it happened too!!!

[donsprinkle]

But why didn't the employee want to file charges?

[beerye]

This is no surprise, they were willing to go after Barron.

[Creamy-]

So in the army's response they didn't even say she was physically pushed aside? Just abruptly?😂

[JamesStone-hz]

At least trump wasn't looking at his watch the whole time

[ursulaglissmann]

Why don't you report on MIA president at the beach.

[shawnsullivan]

“I have witnessed over 75 wreath laying ceremonies performed by politicians and conducted 524 funerals in this cemetery during the time I served in the Presidential Honor Guard for three years. What I got to witness yesterday was the most respectful and solemn ceremony I have seen, " O'Hara wrote.

"There were no speeches, no angles, no weird photo ops just our elected officials and the 45th President respectfully and solemnly honoring the fallen and their families, " he added.”

[everettplummer]

I am deeply worried that a staff member acted out like that on sacred ground. Ignoring thousands of families and news people exercising their 1st Amendment rights in a place open to the public. It's a slap in the face of true Americans. The Constitution is what everyone who gave their life fought for. Where were the Sniffer in Chief and the Cackler? Either napping on a beach or hiding from the press.

[Colin_]

They’re making a bigger deal of this ‘alleged’ incident than the reason those soldiers died.

[lonnyself]

So he did the right thing nothing less if it felt like a slap in the face that's there issues ! whom ever they are This American solider is proud of the man taking the time for the families of our troops in there last moments in memory how and why and where ' I am sick of the practice of trying to take the moments away from the country when we all need to stand together they always attempt to split us with politics .

[christinaheeter]

I've been at Arlington Cemetery and hundreds of people were taking pictures and videos, including myself. Not one person that works there never said anything. It is a beautiful place for our fallen Soldiers to rest and be reminded.

[Jilla]

Then Chis LaSavida said the staffer “had a mental health problem”. Because that’s how they treat people

[lisaskaggs]

I've never heard any Democrat recite the names of the soldiers killed at Abby gate.
I never heard Hillary mention the four who were killed in Benghazi either.

[karenleah]

The families and the victims asked President Trump, Lt Colonel Tulsi to be there

[zigzag]

I am so glad that I did not bury my father in Arlington Cemetery. I would love for anyone to see my father was buried there as an honor. The family said they saw no argument altercation anything.

[DoubleDogDare]

He was invited by the families. They WANTED HIM THERE. There are literally thousands of photos and videos online of people taken at Arlington.

[lynch]

Anything to get your mind off this bad economy...

[davsim]

U.S. veteran and former member of the Presidential Honor Guard defended former President Trump's appearance at Arlington National Cemetery