Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Trump laid a wreath together with Marine Corporal. Kelsee Lainhart (Ret.) and U.S. Marine Corps. Sergeant Tyler Vargas-Andrews (Ret), who was injured in the Convent Gate bombing, during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on August 26, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia.
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An aide to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “suddenly pushed away” an Arlington National Cemetery employee who was trying to ensure Trump and his entourage complied with “clear prohibitions on visiting the cemetery,” a U.S. Army spokesman said Thursday. Federal law and policy regarding the conduct of political activities. .
The pushing incident, which occurred before Trump posed for photos with the families of fallen Marines after laying flowers at two cemeteries in Arlington’s 60th Precinct, led to military police being notified, but “the employee then decided,” the spokesman said. No charges will be filed.
“As a result, the Army considers this matter closed,” the spokesman said. The Army oversees operations at Arlington.
Participants in Trump’s visit to Arlington and the visit to the 60th Section graves were informed about laws prohibiting political activity at military cemetery sites such as Arlington, the spokesman said.
Section 60 is an area of the cemetery where some service members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried, but recording is generally restricted.
Nonetheless, former President Trump and campaign official Already posted a few video Photos of the former president at the cemetery were posted to his social media accounts, including Videos on TikTok.
Trump’s campaign claimed earlier this week that a cemetery employee who tried to ensure he and others complied with a ban on political events suffered from mental health issues and was “despicable.”
In an unusually direct public statement, the Army condemned the Trump campaign’s efforts to smear cemetery employees.
“This incident is unfortunate and it is unfortunate that ANC staff and their professionalism have been unfairly attacked,” the spokesman said.
“The ANC is a national shrine to the memory of the glorious fallen of the Armed Forces and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure that public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect that our nation’s fallen soldiers deserve,” the spokesman said.
Two defense officials told NBC News that military police arrived and recorded the incident while Trump’s motorcade was still on site, but they did not receive a formal statement from Trump’s team.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said Arlington employees initiated a physical altercation.
“False. Not true at all, this guy is a liar,” Zhang told NBC News, referring to the employee’s claim that he was pushed.
“This person is the one who initiated the physical contact; Verbal harassment is baseless and unnecessary,” Zhang said.
A military official who spoke on condition of anonymity told new york times On Wednesday, the employee who filed the incident report declined to press charges out of fear of retaliation from Trump supporters.
After the incident, NPR reports firsttook place during Trump’s visit to mark the third anniversary of the deaths of 13 U.S. service members killed in the Monastery Gate attack at Kabul Airport during the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan.
On August 26, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump left Arlington National Cemetery after an event to commemorate the victims of the Convent Gate bombing.
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NBC News obtained rules Arlington Cemetery provided to the Trump campaign ahead of Trump’s visit, which included restrictions on photography for partisan political purposes. The rules also state that “visiting of graves by family and guests will follow the established policy of ANC Article 60.”
Zhang said in an article Post on X The Trump campaign was allowed to have a photographer at the cemetery.
“The physical altercation as described did not occur and we are prepared to release the video if such defamatory remarks are made,” Zhang said in a statement on Tuesday, denying his version of the incident.
Zhang said: “The fact is that a private photographer was allowed into the premises but for whatever reason an unnamed person who clearly suffered from mental health issues decided to block a very solemn ceremony. Member of President Trump’s team.
But since that statement, the Trump campaign has not released any footage that contradicts the account provided by Army spokespersons or sources.
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign told CNN on Wednesday that the altercation was “very sad.”
“Donald Trump is a man who wants to make everything about Donald Trump. He also has a history of belittling and insulting service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Taylor said.
—NBC News’ Rebecca Shabad contributed reporting.
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