Gold Star Families Defend Trump’s Arlington Visit, Accuse Harris of Politicizing Fallen Service Members
Over the weekend, Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement from Gold Star military families who invited him to Arlington National Cemetery. These families stood by the Republican nominee and accused Vice President Kamala Harris of politicizing the deaths of fallen U.S. service members.
The ongoing debate stems from Trump’s efforts to pin the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, including a tragic suicide bombing, on Harris and the Biden administration. Harris, in response, criticized Trump’s visit to Arlington as a “political stunt” that disrespected the sacred ground where many Afghanistan war dead are laid to rest.
Despite the cemetery’s rules against partisan activities, Trump’s campaign distributed images of his visit, leading to further tension between the two sides.
The Gold Star families issued a joint statement emphasizing that Trump was invited by them to honor their children’s sacrifice and not for political gains. They expressed disappointment in Harris for turning a solemn ceremony into a political ploy.
Among those honored by Trump at Arlington were Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, who lost their lives in the Kabul bombing last year. The families appreciated Trump’s gesture and criticized Harris for her response to the incident.
Several family members, including Christy Shamblin, have voiced their support for Trump and highlighted the respect shown by him and his team during the Arlington visit.
Trump’s campaign has retaliated against Pentagon officials for the controversy surrounding his visit, with accusations of mistreatment and disputes over photo permissions.
As the election season heats up, Trump has shifted his focus to Harris and her role in foreign policy decisions, particularly the Afghanistan withdrawal. While acknowledging the necessity of leaving Afghanistan, Trump criticizes the Biden administration for its handling of the process.
Despite the back and forth, the Gold Star families’ support for Trump remains strong, and they continue to defend his actions at Arlington National Cemetery.
