Trump campaign staff in brawl at cemetery: ‘Physical incident’
Donald Trump’s campaign staff were reportedly involved in a physical “incident” when the Republican presidential nominee visited a military cemetery earlier this week.
A cemetery staff member was “verbally abused” and “pushed” by members of Mr Trump’s campaign team, according to reports.
But senior officials of the former president have said the cemetery staff member was at fault and may have “mental health” issues.
Mr Trump went to the Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington DC, on Monday.
Arlington is the final resting place of 400,000 military personal as well as several presidents including John F Kennedy.
There, Mr Trump laid a wreath to honour 13 US troops who died in 2021 due to a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan.
While president in 2020, Mr Trump signed a deal with the Taliban to remove troops from Afghanistan, with the expectation that Afghan government forces would maintain control.
But Afgahn forces then collapsed and, under President Joe Biden, the chaotic withdrawal happened as the Taliban at the gates of Kabul.
On Monday, Mr Trump said it was a “botched” exit from Kabul “caused by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden”.
Restricted access
The wreath laying had media present and there were many photographs and footage of the event.
But the US’ National Public Radio (NPR) reported that a staff member with the cemetery had sought to prevent Trump campaign staff from filming and taking photographs inside a restricted area after the wreath laying had concluded.
An Arlington official had told Mr Trump’s team that only cemetery staff could take imagery inside a private area called “section 60” where recent US casualties were buried.
When campaign staff tried to enter section 60 with recording equipment and cameras, an Arlington official tried to block their access.
That official was then reportedly “verbally abused and pushed aside,” by Trump staff, reported NPR.
‘Mental health’ claim
The Trump campaign has pushed back on the incident and placed the blame on the staff member.
Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said a cemetery official “physically blocked” members of his team.
He added that the staff member was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode” and that footage would be released to back up that claim. But The New York Times has said no footage has so far been released.
Chris LaCivita, a senior member of the Trump campaign team, said the cemetery staff member was “a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery”.
Mr Trump posted about the incident on social media and shared a statement from family members of the fallen who had accompanied him.
“We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever,” the statement from the families said.
Pictures have emerged on social media of Mr Trump smiling with some of the families of the fallen within section 60.
Cemetary responds: ‘Incident’
However, Arlington Cemetery has said that there are longstanding laws that place restrictions on imagery within its grounds.
“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” according to a statement published by NPR.
“Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”
About the reported altercation, the cemetery said it “can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed”.
Mr Cheung claimed on social media that “we were granted access to have a photographer there”.
He produced a screenshot on social media, purportedly from Arlington staff, which said Mr Trump could have “an official photographer outside of the main media pool”.
However, that extract did not state the photographer would have access to section 60.
The incident comes just over two months out from polling day on November 5.
Since Kamala Harris became the Democrat candidate, polls have tightened with her and Mr Trump in a close race to claim the White House.
In recent weeks, both Ms Harris and Mr Trump have been holding multiple rallies in the swing states that could determine the election’s outcome.
