Article Summary –
An aide to former US President Donald Trump allegedly disregarded an Arlington National Cemetery employee’s attempts to enforce restrictions on taking photos and video during a visit. The incident occurred when Trump and his staff visited the cemetery with family members of victims of the terrorist attack at Kabul airport. In response, the Army defended the employee and confirmed that the participants in the remembrance ceremony had been advised of federal laws, Army regulations, and Department of Defense policies prohibiting political activities on cemetery grounds.
Trump Campaign Staff Dismisses Allegations of Arlington Cemetery Incident
According to the Army, an aide to ex-President Donald Trump “abruptly shifted” an Arlington National Cemetery employee attempting to enforce photo and video restrictions this week. This event occurred during Trump and his campaign staff’s visit to the cemetery with family members of victims who perished in the 2021 Kabul airport terrorist attack.
The Army spokesperson defended the employee, stating all participants in the remembrance ceremony had been briefed on federal laws and policies prohibiting political activities on cemetery grounds.
The spokesperson added, “This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked”. He further confirmed that the incident had been reported to military police, though the employee decided not to press charges.
The controversy continues as the Trump campaign dismisses these reports as attempts to tarnish Trump’s military-supporting image and criticizes Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Official Reactions and Statements
When asked for comment, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung denied the allegations, claiming the employee initiated unwarranted physical contact. He further dismissed the Army’s statement, reiterating that the cemetery employee initiated physical contact and verbal harassment.
Evidence Contradicts Campaign Statements
Defense Department officials confirmed that an incident transpired during Trump’s visit, where a Trump aide pushed the cemetery employee aside to capture photos and video. Federal regulations prohibit partisan political activities at Army cemeteries, and rules provided to Trump officials highlighted that partisan political campaign activities were not permitted on the Arlington National Cemetery grounds.
Cheung, however, refuted these claims and said that the Trump campaign was prepared to release video evidence denying such details. He said, “There was no physical altercation as described and we are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made.”
He further added that Trump had permission to have a photographer present during the ceremony. Both Trump and his campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita posted videos of the event. NBC News reported that the family invited Trump to participate in the commemoration, and the visit was permitted to be documented.
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