Donald Trump’s campaign has intensified its criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, leveraging the controversy surrounding his recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery. The former president’s team turned the focus toward the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a 2021 suicide bombing.
Trump’s campaign released videos featuring families of the fallen soldiers, who accused President Biden and Vice President Harris of placing their children in harm’s way. Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover, stated, “Kamala, you were in the room with Joe Biden when the decision was made. You created the chaos in Afghanistan.” These families, who have aligned themselves with Trump, defended his Arlington visit and criticized Harris for politicizing the event.
The controversy stems from an August 26th incident at Arlington National Cemetery, where Trump and his team reportedly violated cemetery guidelines by filming near gravestones despite warnings from officials. A cemetery worker was allegedly pushed aside by Trump aides while trying to enforce these rules. The Trump campaign subsequently posted the footage, using it to critique the Biden administration’s actions in Afghanistan.
The exchange has fueled a broader debate over military issues, with Trump and Harris each seeking to position themselves as the better leader for veterans. Trump has struggled to land a significant blow against Harris, who has gained momentum in the race following Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. Despite various attacks, including questioning Harris’s political motives and media presence, Trump has now refocused on the Afghanistan withdrawal, a point of vulnerability for the Biden administration.
Supporters of Trump, including Senator Tom Cotton, have echoed his criticism, claiming that Harris has “blood on her hands” for the deaths in Afghanistan. The Republican Party has long criticized the chaotic withdrawal, and Trump’s campaign has recently amplified this message, drawing renewed attention with backing from the grieving families.
The Trump campaign also issued a statement from the families of the 13 fallen soldiers, expressing their dismay at Harris’s remarks. The families accused her of politicizing Trump’s visit and reiterated their support for the former president.
In response, Harris’s campaign declined to comment, with aides suggesting that Trump’s attacks have failed to gain traction in the past and questioning the impact of this latest effort.
Two families invited Trump to Arlington to mark the third anniversary of their children’s deaths, despite concerns from defense officials about the event’s potential politicization. The officials allowed the ceremony to proceed but restricted filming in certain areas, including Section 60, where many recent military casualties are buried.
The incident at Arlington has drawn further attention to the emotional and political fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal. Jim McCollum, father of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, one of the soldiers killed in the bombing, expressed his support for Trump, citing the former president’s continued efforts to honor the families. He criticized Harris for her involvement in the withdrawal, noting her claim that she was “the last person in the room” when the decision was made. McCollum questioned whether Harris is now downplaying her role or was overstating her influence at the time.
As the controversy unfolds, the families of the 13 service members will be honored by Congress on September 10th with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress. The ceremony, which coincides with a presidential debate between Harris and Trump, is expected to keep the focus on the sacrifice of these service members, with McCollum urging that politics be set aside during the event.
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