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Trump campaign hits back at claims his trip to Arlington Cemetery sparked an altercation with a member of staff
Donald Trump and his team are hitting back at claims that his trip to Arlington National Cemetery included an altercation with a member of the staff there.
A member of Trump's team and staffer at the cemetery clashed over the presence of a photographer in Section 60, the area of the cemetery where American troops who were killed in recent wars are buried, according to reports.
An official with the cemetery tried to 'physically block' members of Trump's team, according to Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman.
'The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump's team during a very solemn ceremony,' Cheung said in the statement.
He threatened to release footage backing up his claim. That footage has yet to be released.
Former U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kelsee Lainhart and Donald Trump lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
The clash came to light after an NPR report about a 'verbal and physical altercation' between Trump and cemetery staff over the presence of a photographer and videographer from Trump's team.
Arlington National Cemetery said that federal law prohibits political campaigning or 'election-related' activities within Army cemeteries, including by photographers.
'We were granted access to have a photographer there,' Cheung countered.
He posted a screenshot of an email saying that 'only former President Trump may have an official photographer or videographer outside of the main media pool.'
His campaign later posted a video of the visit to Trump's TikTok account.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a statement from the family members of the fallen soldiers expressing their approval for photos and video to be taken.
'We had given our approval for President Trump's 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,' the families said.
'The president and his team conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity for all of our service members, especially our beloved children,' the statement noted.
Visitors have long taken graveside photographs in Arlington National Cemetery, including in Section 60.
But the cemetery seemed to think Trump's visit was different.
It said it 'reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants' which includes 'photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign.'
Trump was invited by the families to visit the cemetery to pay tribute to the 13 Americans killed three years ago in a bombing outside the Kabul airport during the Afghanistan evacuation.
The former president laid a series of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then paid a private visit to section 60, the area of the cemetery where those killed in Afghanistan are buried.
He was joined by family members of some of the U.S. soldiers who were killed in a bombing at Abbey Gate. He was also was accompanied by two Marines who were injured in attack: Cpl. Kelsee Lainhart, who was paralyzed in the attack and now uses a wheelchair, and Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who lost his right arm and left leg.
Arlington National Cemetery is considered hallowed ground in the U.S. military and is managed by the Army.
The media were not allowed to accompany Trump to Section 60, the final resting place for those who died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan - a place regularly visited by spouses and family members of the fallen.
Trump had posed for photos with the family and laid flowers at the tombs of some soldiers who died, according to images posted on social media by his team.
Gov. Spencer J. Cox, Republican of Utah — who visited the cemetery with Trump — shared a photo from Section 60 on social media, with the former president and others in a 'thumbs-up' pose around the grave of Staff Sergeant Hoover.
The families of the fallen released a statement backing Trump and his team
The White House took a swipe at Trump's visit to the cemetery, seeming to indicate it was merely for the television cameras.
'There are many ways that we as a nation and our leaders can observe the third anniversary of Abby Gate, and Mr. Trump was invited by at least one, I think maybe several of the families, to lay a wreath at Arlington and that is certainly a way to recognize the sacrifice and the loss. But it was a personal invitation by fans,' White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
'Another way is to continue to work, maybe not with a lot of fanfare, maybe not with a lot of public attention, maybe not with TV cameras, but to work' every day to 'make sure that the families of those of the fallen and of those who were injured and wounded, not just at Abbey Gate, but over the course of the 20 some odd years that we were in Afghanistan, had the support that they need,' he added.
As president, Trump struck a deal with the Taliban that set a timetable to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
But he criticized the ultimate exit during the Biden presidency, saying the execution was botched.
President Biden lays flowers at the tomb of SSG Ryan Knauss
Arlington National Cemetery is considered sacred ground and run by the U.S. Army
Over 100 Afghanistan locals and the 13 U.S. troops were killed when a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Monday's visit enabled Trump to tie his rival Kamala Harris to what he calls 'the most embarrassing moment in our history.' Trump has repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden's handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Monday, starting the second week of his summer vacation.
The visit also allowed Trump to counter reports he doesn't respect veterans and has previously referred to slain World War II soldiers as suckers and losers, reports Trump has denied.
'This is the third anniversary of the BOTCHED Afghanistan withdrawal, the most EMBARRASSING moment in the history of our Country,' Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday.
'Gross Incompetence – 13 DEAD American soldiers, hundreds of people wounded and dead, AMERICANS and BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND.'