JD Vance criticizes media over Trump's Arlington incident: “There is no story”; veterans call vice presidential candidate “cowardly, spineless fraud”

In a fiery response to a Election rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Senator from Ohio JD Vance dismissed media reports about a controversial incident involving Donald Trumps campaign at Arlington National Cemetery. Vance claimed the media was exaggerating the situation, which allegedly involved a physical altercation and unauthorized filming at a gravesite.
“In the confrontation at Arlington Cemetery, the media constructed a story that I really don't believe exists,” Vance said.
Vance defended the Trump campaign, claiming it had permission to send a photographer to the cemetery. “There is verifiable evidence that the campaign was allowed to send a photographer there. They were invited to send a photographer there.”
He stressed that the families of the 13 soldiers who died at Abbey Gate during the evacuation from Kabul wanted Trump's presence as a sign of support. “They wanted Donald Trump there and thank God we have a president who stands with our veterans rather than one who runs away from them,” he added.

Despite Vance's defense, he avoided going into the details of the incident, particularly the ban on filming in Section 60 of the cemetery.
The progressive veterans group VoteVets reacted sharply, calling Vance “a spineless, cowardly fraud” and accusing him of betraying the dignity of the graves. “Political activity is and has always been illegal in Arlington,” VoteVets said. “Trump's campaign team physically attacked cemetery workers who upheld the law and protected the dignity of all graves. Instead of standing up for them, JD Vance is betraying them to make Trump happy. Pathetic.”

The Trump campaign has denied claims of a physical altercation and has not yet released any footage to corroborate their side of the story. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung claimed a private photographer was allowed on the scene and blamed an unnamed person for obstructing Trump's team.
Vance also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “disgraceful” for her role in the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also attacked Harris for her reaction to Trump's visit, saying, “She can go to hell.”