The fallout from the now-controversial wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery continues as former President Donald Trump shared a TikTok video of the event possibly violating a federal law against using military cemeteries for campaigning purposes.
Trump was at Arlington to commemorate the third anniversary of an attack in Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. servicemembers during the catastrophic withdrawal of troops.
The 21-second video reveals Trump laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It also included vignetts of Trump and Gold Star family members at gravesites in Section 60 of the cemetery, NPR reported.
“We lost 13 great great people, what a horrible day it was,” Trump said in the video. “We didn’t lose one person in 18 months and then they took over the disaster, the leaving of Afghanistan.”
@realdonaldtrump Should have never happened.
♬ original sound – President Donald J Trump
Trump has blamed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris the loss of life that day.
Seemingly, the only glitch in the ceremony and subsequent video is that the Trump campaign was not allowed to film or photograph in Section 60.
The reason is that federal law prohibits the use of military cemeteries for campaign events.
Two of Trump’s campaign staffers alleged were in a physical and verbal altercation with an Arlington official who tried to prevent the filming.
However, members of the Gold Star families said in a statement that Trump was there at their invitation.
They also approved his photographer and videographer documenting the ceremony.
Some of those same family members also spoke against Biden at the Republican National Convention.
“Joe Biden may have forgotten that our children died, but we have not forgotten, Donald Trump has not forgotten,” said Cheryl Juels in July at the convention.
Juels, the aunt of Sgt. Nicole Gee, one of the 13 killed at Abbey Gate in 2021, added, “Joe Biden owes the men and women that served in Afghanistan a debt of gratitude and an apology. Donald Trump loves this country and will never forget the sacrifice and bravery of our service members,” she added. “Join us in putting him back in the White House.”
Even though the families approved of Trump’s cameras, the cemetery did not.
The family of a soldier who died by suicide did not give permission even though the headstone is visible, per NPR.
A Trump spokesman said the cemetery staffer was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode.”
He also said the campaign would release footage of what took place but has declinined to do so.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) attended the Arlington ceremony and has apologized for his role in sending a campaign fundraising email with a photo of him and Trump in Section 60 with the family of a fallen soldier.
Cox’s gubernatorial account on X, formerly Twitter, posted a photo from the restricted area, which remains online.
Trump has been in the hot seat before regarding his military stance.
He allegedly called dead soldiers “suckers and losers,” and insulted the late John McCain for being a prisoner of war.
Recently he said civilian Medal of Freedom recipients are better than those who received the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military award in the country and is often given posthumously.
