Harris slams Trump for incident at Arlington National Cemetery

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday sharply criticized Donald Trump over the incident Monday during the former president’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery, saying that he “is unable to comprehend anything other than service to himself.”

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday sharply criticized Donald Trump over the incident Monday during the former president’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery, saying that he “is unable to comprehend anything other than service to himself.” Veterans, service members and their families “should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude,” Harris wrote in a lengthy post on social media. She continued: “It is my belief that someone who cannot meet this simple, sacred duty should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States of America.” Trump has faced controversy over his visit to the cemetery after a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the 13 US service members who were killed in the Kabul airpot bombing in 2021. Trump campaign officials have said an individual physically blocked the former president’s team from accompanying him during the visit, and a cemetery spokesperson confirmed to CNN “there was an incident” and a “report was filed.” The US Army issued a stark rebuke of Trump’s campaign over the incident, saying Thursday that participants in the ceremony “were made aware of federal laws” regarding political activity at the cemetery, and “abruptly pushed aside” an employee of the cemetery. Saturday’s statement marks the first time the vice president has directly addressed the controversy as she attempts to draw a contrast between herself and her rival ahead of their September 10 debate. Michael Tyler, the Harris campaign’s communications director, previously called the incident “pretty sad” in an interview on CNN but said it is what people have “come to expect from Donald Trump and his team.”