Fresh controversy brews over Trump鈥檚 Arlington National Cemetery visit
Former President Donald Trump鈥檚 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鈥檚 team from accompanying him during the Monday visit, two Trump campaign officials said. A cemetery spokesperson confirmed to CNN 鈥渢here was an incident鈥� and a 鈥渞eport was filed鈥� but didn鈥檛 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鈥檚 Abbey Gate. The Trump campaign posted a of the former president鈥檚 visit, which marked three years since the tragedy.
In a on Truth Social, Trump appeared to suggest the incident stemmed from his campaign鈥檚 use of photography, sharing a statement from the family members of the fallen soldiers expressing their approval.
鈥淲e had given our approval for President Trump鈥檚 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,鈥� 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 鈥渞einforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants,鈥� which includes 鈥減hotographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate鈥檚 campaign.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 post came after a from NPR about a 鈥渧erbal and physical altercation.鈥� A source with knowledge of the incident told the outlet that a cemetery official attempted to prevent Trump鈥檚 team from photographing and filming in the area where recent U.S. casualties are buried. In response, Trump campaign staff 鈥渧erbally abused and pushed the official aside,鈥� according to NPR.
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung disputed claims of a physical altercation, but said an unnamed individual decided to 鈥減hysically block members of President Trump鈥檚 team during a very solemn ceremony.鈥� Cheung suggested that Trump鈥檚 team has video to back up the claim.
Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita shared a similar account with CNN, saying in a statement that 鈥淧resident 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.鈥�
鈥淔or a despicable individual to physically prevent President Trump鈥檚 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,鈥� LaCivita continued.
Trump鈥檚 running mate, Sen. JD Vance, dismissed the incident as a 鈥渓ittle disagreement鈥� and said the families had 鈥渋nvited (Trump) to be there and to support them.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 verifiable evidence that the campaign was allowed to have a photographer there,鈥� Vance told reporters Wednesday in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was campaigning. 鈥淭here鈥檚 verifiable evidence that the families of these poor people who had their loved ones die three years ago at Abbey Road 鈥� excuse me, Abbey Gate. Those 13 Americans, a lot of them were there with the president.鈥�
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鈥檚 intentions and calling his team鈥檚 behavior 鈥渁bhorrent and shameful.鈥�
鈥淚 urge Arlington Cemetery to publicly release all that transpired yesterday so the American people can ensure the ground in which our nation鈥檚 heroes are buried is not being debased by a man who has no concept of service and sacrifice,鈥� the congressman said.
CNN鈥檚 Kit Maher and Rashard Rose contributed to this report.