2017 TRUMP AVOIDS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARLINGTON BECAUSE OF RAIN
Sarah K. Burris
August 29, 2024
Sgt. Phillip J. Reddick plays taps in honor of Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker and Col. Paul M. Kelly Nov. 16, 2013, at their Arlington National Cemetery grave sites (Photo by Virginia Guard Public Affairs)
Donald Trump and his campaign continue to experience backlash after the reported physical altercation with an Arlington National Cemetery official.
Trump welcomed the press to the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Monday but didn't tell the press pool that he was headed to Section 60, where the altercation purportedly occurred. So, no media was on hand to observe the incident. The TikTok video showed photos of the wreath-laying from two different angles.
The Trump campaign told MSNBC on Wednesday that a video of the incident exists but refused to share it with him.
The U.S. Army released a statement on Thursday shaming the campaign staffer who reportedly shoved the cemetery official, prompting a lot of response.
The military is infamously non-political, so the fact that they released a statement rebuking Trump's campaign without saying his name is notable, a national security reporter for Politico explained on X.
"This is new stuff," said Paul McLeary.
"It has to be noted how rare a statement like this from the Army is. I covered the Army for four years and not sure I can recall something similar," CNN Pentagon reporter Haley Britzky agreed.
Veteran Paul Rieckhoff commented, "It's now clearly the Trump campaign's word against the US ARMY. Who you gonna believe?"
Marine and former Wall Street Journal correspondent Ben Kesling explored the controversy to explain why what Trump did was so unacceptable.
"You can't have your photo crew take photos even if one family consents. That's because other graves are included in those photos. And those families haven't given permission," he said. "More importantly, grieving families shouldn't feel pressured by powerful people to give consent. Section 60 is noteworthy because the graves are those of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. People visiting those graves aren't distant relatives. It's moms and dads and wives and husbands and kids and friends and fellow troops.
Sarah K. Burris
August 29, 2024
Sgt. Phillip J. Reddick plays taps in honor of Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker and Col. Paul M. Kelly Nov. 16, 2013, at their Arlington National Cemetery grave sites (Photo by Virginia Guard Public Affairs)
Donald Trump and his campaign continue to experience backlash after the reported physical altercation with an Arlington National Cemetery official.
Trump welcomed the press to the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Monday but didn't tell the press pool that he was headed to Section 60, where the altercation purportedly occurred. So, no media was on hand to observe the incident. The TikTok video showed photos of the wreath-laying from two different angles.
The Trump campaign told MSNBC on Wednesday that a video of the incident exists but refused to share it with him.
The U.S. Army released a statement on Thursday shaming the campaign staffer who reportedly shoved the cemetery official, prompting a lot of response.
The military is infamously non-political, so the fact that they released a statement rebuking Trump's campaign without saying his name is notable, a national security reporter for Politico explained on X.
"This is new stuff," said Paul McLeary.
"It has to be noted how rare a statement like this from the Army is. I covered the Army for four years and not sure I can recall something similar," CNN Pentagon reporter Haley Britzky agreed.
Veteran Paul Rieckhoff commented, "It's now clearly the Trump campaign's word against the US ARMY. Who you gonna believe?"
Marine and former Wall Street Journal correspondent Ben Kesling explored the controversy to explain why what Trump did was so unacceptable.
"You can't have your photo crew take photos even if one family consents. That's because other graves are included in those photos. And those families haven't given permission," he said. "More importantly, grieving families shouldn't feel pressured by powerful people to give consent. Section 60 is noteworthy because the graves are those of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. People visiting those graves aren't distant relatives. It's moms and dads and wives and husbands and kids and friends and fellow troops.
The grief is still very present."
Military.com reporter Konstantin Toropin agreed with Kesling, saying that the controversy could be confusing. "Like with so many topics, the former President is testing and exposing rules or traditions that have long laid under the surface because no one felt the need to push those limits."
Some former military officials are still furious about Trump's behavior in general.
"This is no way for a government official or political candidate to conduct themselves on the sacred ground of Section 60 at Arlington. The final resting place of so many heroic Americans -- including some who died under my command -- is not a political prop," said retired Admiral James Stavridis, USN on X.
Trump's campaign still maintains that the altercation never took place.
Military.com reporter Konstantin Toropin agreed with Kesling, saying that the controversy could be confusing. "Like with so many topics, the former President is testing and exposing rules or traditions that have long laid under the surface because no one felt the need to push those limits."
Some former military officials are still furious about Trump's behavior in general.
"This is no way for a government official or political candidate to conduct themselves on the sacred ground of Section 60 at Arlington. The final resting place of so many heroic Americans -- including some who died under my command -- is not a political prop," said retired Admiral James Stavridis, USN on X.
Trump's campaign still maintains that the altercation never took place.
'Not something you do': Marine veteran appalled by Trump's thumbs-up pose at Arlington
Travis Gettys
August 29, 2024
President Donald Trump walks from the west wing of the White House to Marine One in 2017. (Shutterstock.com)
A Marine Corps veteran who has written extensively about veterans issues condemned Donald Trump's behavior at Arlington National Cemetery.
Ben Kesling, who served as an infantry officer in Afghanistan and Iraq before working as a Wall Street Journal correspondent, analyzed the former president's photo opportunity with Gold Star families at the gravesites of two service members killed three years ago in the Abbey Gate bombing.
"The Trump campaign at Arlington controversy can be confusing," Kesling said on social media. "Here it is, broken down simply. You can’t bring your own photography crew to Arlington without permission. You can’t have your photo crew take photos even if one family consents. That’s because other graves are included in those photos. And those families haven’t given permission. More importantly, grieving families shouldn’t feel pressured by powerful people to give consent."
The Republican nominee's campaign team took photographs and recorded video later posted online of Trump and the supportive families in Section 60, which contains the graves of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and federal law prohibits political campaign activities, including photos and video, in that area.
"People visiting those graves aren’t distant relatives," Kesling wrote. "It’s moms and dads and wives and husbands and kids and friends and fellow troops. The grief is still very present."
Two campaign staffers allegedly engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with a cemetery staffer who tried to enforce the rules against partisan activities, but she reportedly declined to press criminal charges because she feared retaliation from Trump supporters.
"The staff at Arlington aren’t being political when they prevent photo crews from taking unauthorized photos," Kesling said. "The staff is being apolitical. They’re being professional. They’re upholding the dignity of Arlington."
Kesling expressed disgust at the former president for posing with his customary thumbs-up grin at the gravesite of a fallen service member.
"I have been to Arlington many times and I have never seen someone grinning and giving a thumbs up for a photo," Kesling said. "I’ve never seen it because it’s not something you do at Arlington if you know anything about the place, and the men and women who are buried there."
Travis Gettys
August 29, 2024
President Donald Trump walks from the west wing of the White House to Marine One in 2017. (Shutterstock.com)
A Marine Corps veteran who has written extensively about veterans issues condemned Donald Trump's behavior at Arlington National Cemetery.
Ben Kesling, who served as an infantry officer in Afghanistan and Iraq before working as a Wall Street Journal correspondent, analyzed the former president's photo opportunity with Gold Star families at the gravesites of two service members killed three years ago in the Abbey Gate bombing.
"The Trump campaign at Arlington controversy can be confusing," Kesling said on social media. "Here it is, broken down simply. You can’t bring your own photography crew to Arlington without permission. You can’t have your photo crew take photos even if one family consents. That’s because other graves are included in those photos. And those families haven’t given permission. More importantly, grieving families shouldn’t feel pressured by powerful people to give consent."
The Republican nominee's campaign team took photographs and recorded video later posted online of Trump and the supportive families in Section 60, which contains the graves of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and federal law prohibits political campaign activities, including photos and video, in that area.
"People visiting those graves aren’t distant relatives," Kesling wrote. "It’s moms and dads and wives and husbands and kids and friends and fellow troops. The grief is still very present."
Two campaign staffers allegedly engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with a cemetery staffer who tried to enforce the rules against partisan activities, but she reportedly declined to press criminal charges because she feared retaliation from Trump supporters.
"The staff at Arlington aren’t being political when they prevent photo crews from taking unauthorized photos," Kesling said. "The staff is being apolitical. They’re being professional. They’re upholding the dignity of Arlington."
Kesling expressed disgust at the former president for posing with his customary thumbs-up grin at the gravesite of a fallen service member.
"I have been to Arlington many times and I have never seen someone grinning and giving a thumbs up for a photo," Kesling said. "I’ve never seen it because it’s not something you do at Arlington if you know anything about the place, and the men and women who are buried there."
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