Why Trump’s “incident” at Arlington National Cemetery matters

In modern American politics, the vast majority of politicians from both parties are careful to treat the military, soldiers and veterans with respect. Donald Trump, for reasons unknown, has chosen a radically different path.

Over the past decade, the Republican has reportedly denigrated military personnel and called fallen American heroes “suckers.” (He denies this.) Trump has also complained vehemently about American military leaders, denigrated wounded veterans, blamed military leaders for failed missions, downplayed the significance of traumatic brain injuries suffered by soldiers, feuded with Gold Star families, downplayed the importance of the Medal of Honor, and famously said, in reference to American prisoners of war, “I like people who weren't captured, OK?”

But another aspect of his disrespect for those in uniform became clear this week.

Despite his past, the former president, who saw a potential opportunity for his election campaign, seemed to want to use Monday to his advantage the third anniversary of a terrorist attack in Afghanistan that killed 13 US soldiers and more than 150 Afghans. Among other things, he took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, followed shortly after by a photo with a thumbs-up at a headstone in Section 60 of the cemetery, where many soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried.

If we were to end the story here, it would already be the basis for a legitimate controversy. In fact, this week Esquire published a memorable headline alongside a column by Charles P. Pierce: “How the hell could Trump use Arlington National Cemetery as a campaign prop?”

But that was before the story got even worse. NBC News reported:

Details of the incident are still being pieced together. For example, NPR reported that a source familiar with the incident said two members of the Trump campaign had “a verbal and physical altercation” with an officer at Arlington National Cemetery, but MSNBC or NBC News have not independently confirmed this.

However, other relevant details are clear.

“Federal law prohibits political campaigning or election-related activities at Army National Cemetery military cemeteries, including photographers, content creators, or others present there for the purposes of or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign,” the statement continued. “Arlington National Cemetery has affirmed this law and its prohibitions and has widely communicated them to all participants.”

I am aware that several reports have emphasized that Trump was at the cemetery at the invitation of some family members who lost loved ones in Afghanistan three years ago. This is apparently true. But while these family members deserve respect and compassion, politicians must not exploit Arlington to advance their personal ambitions.

Trump's communications director Steven Cheung, for his part, denied any wrongdoing and accused an Arlington National Cemetery employee of “suffering a mental seizure” during the incident.

Cheung did not deny that the former president was accompanied by a photographer in Section 60, but insisted the photographer was allowed to be there. Trump's co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita added that the cemetery official was “despicable.”

I don't think we have the final word on this story, but as it progresses, one wonders how the political world would react if a Democratic candidate were embroiled in a similar controversy. How many Republican officials would call on him or her to drop out of the race?

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com.