President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were not invited to Arlington National Cemetery last week by Gold Star families to commemorate the anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate. This contradicted claims made by GOP Sen. Tom Cotton and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Trump had visited the cemetery and posed for photos with Gold Star families in a section where photos are traditionally prohibited. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said Trump’s visit was a personal invitation by families and there are various ways to honor the fallen without fanfare or public attention.
The U.S. Army accused a member of Trump’s campaign staff of pushing aside a cemetery staff member who tried to enforce photo-taking restrictions. Cotton claimed that the Gold Star families who invited Trump to the cemetery also invited Biden and Harris, who were not in attendance. Gabbard echoed Cotton’s statement, accusing Biden and Harris of not even responding to the invitation. Trump, however, defended his actions at the cemetery, saying he was asked by a Gold Star family to take photos at a loved one’s grave. His campaign posted videos of the visit, which Trump defended at a rally and online.
The Gold Star families released a statement accompanying videos criticizing Harris for attempting to politicize Trump’s visit to the cemetery. They expressed their appall at Harris’ comments and said Trump was invited by them to honor their children’s sacrifice. The families defended Trump’s visit as a solemn act of remembrance, accusing Harris of twisting the sacred moment into a political ploy. Harris had previously criticized Trump for disrespecting sacred ground during his visit to Arlington National Cemetery. In response, Trump’s campaign released videos of family members of fallen service members criticizing Harris and Biden for their absence at the cemetery.
Despite the conflicting claims and accusations, the focus remains on honoring the sacrifice of the fallen service members and supporting their families. The invitation extended to Trump by Gold Star families and his subsequent visit to Arlington National Cemetery have brought attention to the issue of how to properly commemorate and pay tribute to those who have given their lives for their country. The controversy surrounding the photos taken at the cemetery and the absence of Biden and Harris have sparked a debate over the role of political leaders in such solemn occasions. Ultimately, the significance of remembering and honoring the fallen should remain paramount, regardless of the politics involved.
