Army Criticizes Trump Campaign’s Conduct at Arlington Cemetery

When the cemetery’s public affairs director attempted to prevent the Trump campaign from illegally filming in a prohibited area where recently deceased service members are buried, a member of Trump’s team pushed past the employee.

The US Army has rebuked former President Donald Trump and his presidential campaign after they used Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), where nearly 400,000 US veterans are buried, for a political photo op on Monday. An aide “abruptly pushed aside” an employee who tried to stop them.

Trump’s campaign visited the cemetery to highlight the third anniversary of the Islamic State bombing that killed 13 American service members during the Afghanistan evacuation.

When the cemetery’s public affairs director attempted to prevent illegal filming in Section 60 — a prohibited area for recently deceased service members — a Trump team member pushed past her, according to the Army’s statement.

The Trump campaign posted a video on TikTok showing Trump in Section 60, criticizing Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal.

Political activities are prohibited within Army National Military Cemeteries under federal law. The Army informed Trump’s campaign of these laws.

Section 60 is reserved for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Two Trump officials, Steven Cheung and Chris LaCivita, insulted the cemetery worker in public statements. Cheung claimed she was “suffering from a mental health episode,” while LaCivita called her a “despicable individual.”

The Trump campaign said it was prepared to release footage of the altercation but did not.

In a statement, the Army defended the employee, lamenting the criticism from the Trump campaign. “This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism have been unfairly attacked,” the statement reads. “ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its staff ensures public ceremonies are conducted with dignity and respect.”

Though the incident was reported to the police, the employee chose not to press charges, and the Army considers the matter closed.

The Trump campaign said it had approval from some families of the 13 fallen soldiers to film, but others did not give approval and saw their loved one’s grave featured in the media. One of these graves was Master Sgt. Andrew Marckesano, a Silver Star recipient who died by suicide in 2020.

Marckesano’s sister said that while her family supports the families of the 13 fallen “in their quest for answers and accountability,” the Trump campaign “did not adhere to the rules.”

Veterans and veterans groups criticized the Trump campaign’s behavior. Charlie Iacono, president of the Green Beret Foundation, told CNN the foundation “stands in full support” of the Marckesano family.

“Every soul laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery deserves to have the policies that honor them upheld,” he said.

Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said Arlington is not appropriate for politics.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Paul Eaton called the incident “repugnant” and Fred Wellman, a 22-year Army combat veteran, told USA TODAY that “people are aptly furious.”

Eaton, a senior adviser at VoteVets, called the campaign’s actions “nauseating.” “They see no issue bringing partisan politics there, even if it means getting into physical altercations with cemetery staff,” Eaton told USA TODAY. “Someone who would do that should never be Commander-in-Chief.”