ATLANTA – The ongoing feud between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has taken another twist with a statement from Gold Star military families who defended Trump and accused Harris of politicizing fallen U.S. service members. The families invited Trump to Arlington National Cemetery to honor their loved ones who died in the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, including a suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members.
On Saturday, Harris criticized Trump for what she called a “political stunt” at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the families of the fallen soldiers maintain that Trump was there to pay his respects and honor their sacrifice.
The families released a joint statement saying, “President Trump was invited by us, the Gold Star families, to attend the solemn ceremonies commemorating the three-year anniversary of our children’s deaths. He was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris has disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.”
Gold Star families are those who have lost a loved one in military service.
During his visit, Trump laid wreaths in honor of the fallen service members who died in the bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport. The families expressed their gratitude for Trump’s presence and the respect he showed during the solemn ceremonies.
Throughout the weekend, Trump has been sharing video testimonials from family members who support his actions. Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of one of the fallen soldiers, praised Trump for his respectful demeanor towards the families gathered at Arlington while questioning Harris’s handling of the situation.
The visit to Arlington became controversial when defense officials claimed that Trump’s campaign was warned about not taking photographs and that an altercation occurred between Trump aides and a cemetery employee. Despite the incident, the families continue to stand by Trump’s actions.
Trump’s campaign has been critical of Pentagon officials, accusing them of bias and misinformation. The campaign maintains that they had permission to document the visit.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
