Former president Donald Trump fell into some controversy last week after an alleged confrontation during his trip to Arlington National Cemetery. The dispute occurred between his campaign staff and a cemetery employee over photography at the grounds. The incident comes as recent polls have shown Vice President and democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris gaining a lead in key swing states.
On Aug. 26, Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the invitation of the families of 13 fallen soldiers killed in the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago. When campaign staffers allegedly attempted to film and photograph in Section 60, an area of the cemetery reserved for recent U.S. fallen soldiers, an Arlington staffer tried to stop them. Trump campaign staffers then reportedly pushed and verbally attacked the staffer.
At a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump claimed the Gold Star families gave him permission to take the photos and film.
United States federal law prohibits political campaign filming at military cemeteries under the Hatch Act.
As reported by the BBC, Harris said in a statement Saturday that Trump “disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt.”
Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee have asked the Army to provide a report on the incident in Arlington. Despite claims of video footage of the altercation, nothing has surfaced. Arlington National Cemetery has filed a report on the matter.