The U.S. Army has reported that a staff member was forcibly moved aside by a member of former President Trump’s campaign during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. Despite this, the campaign member will not be charged.
The incident occurred during a ceremony honoring the 13 U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in an attack at the Kabul airport during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The Army confirmed that there was a physical altercation between at least one Trump campaign official and a cemetery staff member.
“Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were informed of federal laws, Army regulations, and DoD policies that expressly forbid political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who tried to enforce these rules was forcibly moved aside,” the Army stated.
“In line with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee maintained professionalism and avoided escalating the situation. The incident was reported to the JBM-HH police department, but the employee chose not to press charges. Therefore, the Army considers the matter closed,” the statement added.
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The U.S. Army says a staff member was “abruptly pushed aside” by a member of former President Trump’s campaign during a Monday ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. (Getty Images )
“This incident was regrettable, and it is also regrettable that the ANC employee and her professionalism have been unfairly criticized. ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve,” the Army further commented.
The cemetery has a longstanding federal prohibition on the use of its property by any political campaigns, and cemetery staff had warned that campaign staff could not use the event to take photographs or video.
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Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on the third-year anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the Afghanistan withdrawal. (Pool)
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung argued that the staffer who blocked the campaign photographers seemed to be experiencing a “mental health episode.” He also clarified that the campaign had received approval to bring a photographer.
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“A private photographer was allowed on the premises and, for unknown reasons, an unnamed individual, evidently suffering from a mental health issue, chose to physically obstruct members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony,” he stated.
Trump attended the event at the invitation of relatives of the fallen soldiers, who thanked him for his attendance. (Pool)
Trump participated in the event at the request of relatives of the fallen soldiers, who expressed their gratitude for his presence in a statement.
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“We are deeply thankful to the president for taking the time to honor our children and for standing alongside us in our grief, offering his unwavering support during such a difficult time,” five of the family members wrote following the event. “His compassion and respect meant more than words can express.”
