Controversy Over Trump Flower-Laying Scene Filming as 'Political Act'
"Staff Members Verbally Abused and Used Force on Cemetery Workers"
US Army States "Filming Restriction Justified, Unfair Attack"
Controversy is escalating over former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, visiting Arlington National Cemetery. Reports have emerged that Trump’s aides used physical force and verbal abuse against cemetery staff who tried to stop filming inside the cemetery, considering it a political act. The U.S. Army, which oversees the national cemetery, has defended the staff’s rightful response.
In a statement on the 29th (local time), the U.S. Army said, "Those who attended the event on August 26 and visited Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) were aware of the federal law prohibiting political activities within the cemetery. Despite this, a cemetery employee who tried to enforce compliance was suddenly pushed aside," adding, "This is an unfortunate incident, and the employee’s professionalism was unfairly attacked."
The U.S. Army continued, "Arlington National Cemetery is a sacred place honoring honorable fallen soldiers," and "dedicated staff will continue to ensure that public events are conducted with the dignity and respect befitting the fallen." Sabrina Singh, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, also stated, "I am aware of the Army’s statement and support their remarks."
The friction arose when former President Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery on the 26th and laid flowers at the Section 60 burial site. Section 60 is where 13 U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal are buried. A photographer from the Trump campaign attempted to film Trump laying flowers at the graves, and when a cemetery employee tried to stop this, considering it a prohibited "political act within the cemetery," two aides from the Trump camp intervened.
NPR and others reported, citing sources, that Trump’s aides pushed cemetery officials and used verbal abuse. Steven Cheung, spokesperson for the Trump campaign, and other campaign officials denied any physical altercation and expressed willingness to release footage from the scene. However, they publicly criticized the cemetery employee as a "despicable person" and "mentally unstable," further fueling the incident.
The cemetery stated, "Federal law prohibits political campaigns or election-related activities within Army national military cemeteries," noting that "photographers or content creators attending events or directly supporting a particular party’s candidate’s campaign are also subject to this prohibition." An Army official said the matter was closed after the employee decided not to file a complaint due to fear of retaliation.
Former President Trump expressed, "Last night I read posts claiming I politicized my visit to the national cemetery," adding, "They say I was campaigning, but I am someone who does not need promotion." Trump has strongly criticized the full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, during the first year of the Joe Biden administration, and the subsequent Taliban takeover as a disgrace to the United States.
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