Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Arlington Cemetery Official Was 'Pushed Aside' in Trump Staff Altercation but Won't Press Charges
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 9 months ago on
August 29, 2024

Arlington Cemetery official declines to press charges after being pushed aside during Trump staff altercation at wreath-laying ceremony. (AP/Alex Brandon)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

ARLINGTON, Va. – An Arlington National Cemetery official was “abruptly pushed aside” during an altercation with former President Donald Trump’s staff during a wreath-laying ceremony but declined to press charges, an Army spokesman said Thursday.

A statement said the cemetery employee was trying to make sure those participating in the wreath-laying ceremony earlier this week were following the rules.

“This employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption,” the statement said. The incident was reported to the police, but the employee decided not to press charges. The Army said it considered the matter closed.

Trump Campaign Warned About Photography Rules

Trump’s campaign was warned about not taking photographs before the altercation at Arlington National Cemetery during a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday to honor service members killed in the Afghanistan War withdrawal, a defense official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said that the Trump campaign was warned about not taking photographs in Section 60 before their arrival and the altercation. Section 60 is the burial site for military personnel killed while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Cemetery Officials Acknowledge Incident

Cemetery officials had previously acknowledged that “an incident” had occurred and a report had been filed, but it did not address details of what had happened. They declined to share the report.

“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” the cemetery officials’ statement said. “Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants. We can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed.”

Conflicting Statements from Trump Campaign

Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung said the Republican presidential candidate’s team was granted access to have a photographer. He contested the allegation that a campaign staffer pushed a cemetery official.

“The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason, an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony,” he said.

Chris LaCivita, a top Trump campaign adviser, noted that Trump was there at the invitation of the families of the service members who were killed in the airport bombing. The Trump campaign posted a message signed by relatives of two of the service members killed in the bombing that said “the president and his team conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity for all of our service members, especially our beloved children.”

“For a despicable individual to physically prevent President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this solemn event is a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hollowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery,” he said in a written statement, misspelling the word hallowed. “Whoever this individual is, spreading these lies are dishonoring the men and women of our armed forces.”

Reactions from Political Opponents

Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, said the reports of the altercation were “what we’ve come to expect from Donald Trump and his team.”

“Donald Trump is a person who wants to make everything all about Donald Trump,” Tyler said on CNN on Wednesday. “He’s also somebody who has a history of demeaning and degrading military service members, those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.”

Trump’s running mate JD Vance was asked about the incident Wednesday at a campaign event in Erie, Pennsylvania, and said that “apparently somebody at Arlington Cemetery, some staff member, had a little disagreement with somebody” and “the media has turned this into a national news story.”

He instead tried to focus on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling Harris “disgraceful” for not firing anyone for the deaths of service members in the terror attack. “She can go to hell,” Vance said.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A Pentagon investigation into the deadly attack concluded that the suicide bomber acted alone and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable. But critics have slammed the Biden administration for the catastrophic evacuation, saying it should have started earlier than it did.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

DON'T MISS

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

DON'T MISS

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

DON'T MISS

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

DON'T MISS

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

DON'T MISS

Bernie Sanders and AOC are Popular With Democrats. Here’s a Timeline of Their Alliance

DON'T MISS

Rescue Saves Fearful Terrier Mix From Euthanasia at Local Shelter

DON'T MISS

9 National Parks With Scenic Bike Trails Perfect for Kids and Parents

DON'T MISS

NASA Office Above ‘Seinfeld’ Diner Is a Target of Trump Budget Shrinkage

DON'T MISS

Big Fresno Fair Announces First Five Shows in Its Concert Lineup

UP NEXT

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

UP NEXT

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

UP NEXT

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

UP NEXT

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

UP NEXT

Bernie Sanders and AOC are Popular With Democrats. Here’s a Timeline of Their Alliance

UP NEXT

Rescue Saves Fearful Terrier Mix From Euthanasia at Local Shelter

UP NEXT

9 National Parks With Scenic Bike Trails Perfect for Kids and Parents

UP NEXT

NASA Office Above ‘Seinfeld’ Diner Is a Target of Trump Budget Shrinkage

UP NEXT

Big Fresno Fair Announces First Five Shows in Its Concert Lineup

UP NEXT

Ed Smylie, Who Saved the Apollo 13 Crew With Duct Tape, Dies at 95

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

41 minutes ago

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

45 minutes ago

Bernie Sanders and AOC are Popular With Democrats. Here’s a Timeline of Their Alliance

1 hour ago

Rescue Saves Fearful Terrier Mix From Euthanasia at Local Shelter

2 hours ago

9 National Parks With Scenic Bike Trails Perfect for Kids and Parents

2 hours ago

NASA Office Above ‘Seinfeld’ Diner Is a Target of Trump Budget Shrinkage

3 hours ago

Big Fresno Fair Announces First Five Shows in Its Concert Lineup

3 hours ago

Ed Smylie, Who Saved the Apollo 13 Crew With Duct Tape, Dies at 95

3 hours ago

Moody’s Downgrades US Credit Rating Amid Rising Federal Deficit Concerns

17 hours ago

Sheriff Says There Are Indications 10 Escapees From New Orleans Jail Had Inside Help

17 hours ago

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

LONDON — A fellow musician and friend of Chris Brown has been charged alongside the Grammy-winning singer on allegations they beat and serio...

9 minutes ago

9 minutes ago

Musician Charged With Chris Brown in Alleged London Nightclub Assault

16 minutes ago

Student Loans Have Been Confusing Lately. Here’s a Guide to Know Where You Stand

36 minutes ago

Trump Admin Lifts Ban on Controversial Rapid-Fire Gun Triggers

41 minutes ago

PGA Championship Gets Storms and a Late Start

45 minutes ago

Easily Distracted? How to Improve Your Attention Span

1 hour ago

Bernie Sanders and AOC are Popular With Democrats. Here’s a Timeline of Their Alliance

Tuesday, a terrified 14-pound terrier mix rescued from the brink of euthanasia, is now thriving in foster care and slowly learning to trust. (Mell's Mutts)
2 hours ago

Rescue Saves Fearful Terrier Mix From Euthanasia at Local Shelter

2 hours ago

9 National Parks With Scenic Bike Trails Perfect for Kids and Parents

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend