Harris accuses Trump of ‘disrespecting sacred ground’ with Arlington cemetery incident

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday accused former President Donald Trump of “disrespecting sacred ground” during his visit to Arlington National Cemetery where members of his staff were accused of getting into a physical altercation with cemetery staff. 

Ms. Harris said on X that she has had the privilege of visiting Arlington cemetery numerous times, which she described as a solemn place, but not a “place for politics.” 

“And yet, as was reported this week, Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there, resulting in an altercation with cemetery staff,” Ms. Harris said. “Let me be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt.”

On Monday, a verbal and physical altercation reportedly took place between members of Mr. Trump’s staff and cemetery officials when his team tried to take photos in Section 60 of the grounds, an act permitted only to cemetery staff. 

While Mr. Trump’s campaign has denied the altercation happened, the Virginia cemetery confirmed in a statement that a dispute occurred and a report was filed, and noted that federal law prevents political or campaign events from happening in the cemetery, including “photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign.”

Mr. Trump was at Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony to remember the 13 service members killed in Afghanistan in 2021.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance shot back at Ms. Harris on X, pouncing on the Biden administration’s role in order the withdrawal that resulted in the service members’ deaths. 

“President Trump was there at the invitation of families whose loved ones died because of your incompetence,” Mr. Vance said. “Why don’t you get off social media and go launch an investigation into their unnecessary deaths?”

Ms. Harris’ attack on the former president followed Rep. Jamie Raskin, Maryland Democrat, calling for a full account of the alleged altercation from Army Secretary Christine Warmuth.