US Army reprimands Trump campaign team over incident at Arlington National Cemetery

CNN
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The U.S. Army issued a sharp rebuke to former President Donald Trump's campaign over Monday's events at Arlington National Cemetery. In a statement Thursday, it said ceremony attendees were “advised of federal laws” regarding political activities at the cemetery and “abruptly pushed aside” a cemetery employee.

“Participants in the August 26 ceremony and subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal law, Army regulations and DoD policies that clearly prohibit political activity on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to enforce compliance with these rules was abruptly pushed aside,” the Army spokesman said in the statement Thursday.

“This incident was unfortunate and it is also unfortunate that the ANC staff member and her professionalism were unfairly attacked. The ANC is a national shrine to the honoured dead of the armed forces and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure that public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect that the nation's fallen deserve,” the statement said.

The Army spokesman said that although the incident was reported to police at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the employee in question chose “not to file a report” so the Army “considers the matter closed.”

Trump visited the cemetery following a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate 13 U.S. service members killed at the Abbey Gate of Kabul airport in Afghanistan three years ago.

A person physically blocked Trump's team from accompanying him during Monday's visit, two Trump campaign officials said. A cemetery spokesperson confirmed to CNN that there was “an incident” and a “report was filed,” but did not provide further details.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump appeared to suggest that the incident was due to his campaign's use of photos and shared a statement from the fallen soldiers' families expressing their approval.

“We had given our consent for President Trump's official videographer and photographer to attend the event to ensure that these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and that we can preserve these memories forever,” the families said.

But according to a statement from Arlington National Cemetery seen by CNN, federal law prohibits political campaigning or election-related activities at Army National Cemetery military cemeteries.

The cemetery said it had “reaffirmed this law and its prohibitions and made them widely available to all attendees,” which includes “photographers, content creators, and any other persons present for specific reasons or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign.”

Trump's post followed a report by NPR of a “verbal and physical altercation.” A source familiar with the incident told the news outlet that a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump's team from taking photos and filming in the area where the latest U.S. casualties are buried. In response, Trump's campaign staff “verbally abused the official and pushed him aside,” according to NPR.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung denied the claims of a physical altercation, but said an unnamed person decided to “physically block members of President Trump's team during a very solemn ceremony.” Cheung suggested that Trump's team had video to back up the claim.

Trump's campaign manager Chris LaCivita shared a similar report with CNN, saying in a statement: “President Trump was there at the invitation of the Abbey Gate Gold Star Families to honor their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”

“The fact that a despicable human being physically prevented President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this celebratory event is disgraceful and does not deserve to undermine the hollowed-out [sic] “On the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. Whoever spreads these lies dishonors the men and women of our armed forces and disrespects all who have paid the price in defense of our country,” LaCivita continued.

CNN's Colin McCullough contributed reporting.

This story is brand new and will be updated.