Former US President Donald Trump recently posted several videos on social media platform X featuring Gold Star parents who criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for being “responsible for the deaths of our 13 kids” during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. The grieving families expressed their frustration with the vice president’s comments and lack of support for them in these videos posted by Trump.
Earlier on Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump on X, accusing him of “disrespecting sacred ground” by staging a political stunt at a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the 13 US service members killed in an ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul Airport on August 26, 2021. Trump’s campaign brought photographers to the event last week, allegedly leading to a physical altercation with a cemetery staffer.
Family members of the fallen service members defended their actions and refuted claims of any altercation taking place during the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Section 60 where three of the 13 service members are buried. Although it is not prohibited to take pictures at the cemetery, federal law does prohibit campaign activities from taking place. The US Army claimed that a cemetery staffer who was trying to prevent the photographers from entering the grounds was “abruptly pushed aside.” However, the families denied this incident and said they had requested that photos and video be taken during the event.
The Gold Star families also expressed their disappointment with Vice President Harris’ lack of empathy and basic understanding of the situation. They accused her of failing to acknowledge their children and not reaching out to them after their deaths. The families denied that the event was political and blasted Harris and the Biden administration for their refusal to reach out to them.
In response to these incidents, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance said during a campaign rally Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris can “go to hell” for criticizing Trump over the Arlington visit. He emphasized that the veterans care more about the deaths of 13 innocent Americans and urged further investigation into the matter.
