In the latest back-and-forth between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s campaign released a statement from Gold Star military families defending him and accusing Harris of politicizing fallen U.S. service members. This comes as Trump tries to link Harris to the Biden administration’s handling of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, including a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members. Harris previously accused Trump of staging a “political stunt” at Arlington National Cemetery, where many Afghanistan war dead are buried.
The Gold Star families, who have lost a loved one in military service, invited Trump to Arlington National Cemetery to honor their fallen children. They claim that Trump was there to honor their sacrifice, despite Harris accusing him of disrespecting sacred ground. Trump laid wreaths in honor of the service members killed in the 2021 bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the families of those slain servicemen thanked him for standing with them. Trump’s social media accounts have been used to distribute video testimonials from some of the relatives who signed the statement, defending his actions and criticizing Harris.
Following the controversial visit, defense officials revealed that Trump’s campaign was warned not to take photographs at Arlington National Cemetery, leading to an altercation between Trump aides and a cemetery employee. Despite this, the families have continued to support Trump’s actions and have criticized Harris for her remarks. The Biden administration, including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, previously met with the families of the fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base in 2021. The families have questioned Harris’ characterization of their loved ones’ deaths as a success.
Since the end of Biden’s reelection bid in July, Trump has focused on targeting Harris and her foreign policy decisions, particularly her role in the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump has emphasized the decisions made by both his administration and Biden’s as contributing to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover. While Trump has acknowledged the decision to withdraw, he has criticized the Biden administration’s execution of the withdrawal, claiming it should have been done with more dignity and strength. Trump’s campaign has also clashed with Pentagon officials over the handling of the Arlington visit and allegations of verbal abuse towards a cemetery employee.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Trump’s campaign continues to amplify its criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of foreign policy issues like the Afghanistan withdrawal. The Gold Star families who invited Trump to Arlington National Cemetery remain steadfast in their support of the former president, claiming that he was there to honor their fallen children’s sacrifice and accusing Vice President Harris of politicizing the solemn occasion. The ongoing tensions between Trump, Harris, and the families of fallen service members highlight the divisive nature of American politics and the continued impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal on the upcoming election.
