The Trump campaign, the 45th president and Gold Star families launched a scathing defense attack against Vice President Kamala Harris over Labor Day weekend after the Democratic nominee claimed that Trump had “desecrated the hallowed ground” of Arlington National Cemetery.
“You should be ashamed. [about] “You lack human empathy and decency,” Darren Huber, father of Marine Staff Sergeant Taylor Huber, said in a video shared by Trump and directed at Harris. “You’re only in this job for the power and the prestige. You don’t care about our military or our people.”
Huber was one of eight members of Gold Star families who recorded a video message published on Trump’s X account, blasting Harris for what she claimed was Trump’s “insult to sacred ground” at Arlington National Cemetery on the anniversary of the Biden-Harris administration’s failed attempt to pull out of Afghanistan, in which 13 U.S. soldiers were killed.
Last Monday, President Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Cemetery in Virginia, along with family members of Gold Star recipients, to commemorate the 13 service members killed in the terrorist attack that took place on August 26, 2021, at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Harris conspicuously skipped a public memorial for soldiers killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal she supports.
Kamala Harris was criticized by Gold Star families for statements she made about Trump on Saturday. (Getty Images)
Fox News previously reported that the victims’ families said they had invited Trump to the public event and had asked a Trump campaign photographer to document it.
Following the incident, media outlets including NPR and the Associated Press reported that the cameraman had been shooting footage in a restricted area where political activity is prohibited, with the US Army adding that cemetery staff were “suddenly pushed away” during the incident.
“Participants in the August 26 ceremony and subsequent Section 60 visit were aware of federal law, Army regulations and Department of Defence policy which expressly prohibit political activity on cemetery grounds. ANC personnel who attempted to enforce compliance with these regulations were abruptly shoved aside,” the army said in a statement.
Harris doesn’t mention fatally botched Afghanistan withdrawal in military-focused speech at DNC
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Chang said the staffer who blocked the photographer appeared to have a “mental illness” and said the campaign had been approved to bring the photographer.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump stands alongside his grandson, Staff Sergeant Bill Barnett (left), who died in the Abbey Gate bombing, Darin Taylor Hoover, during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on Aug. 26, 2024. Monday marks the third anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed 13 U.S. soldiers. (Getty Images)
“The facts are that a private photographer was allowed on the grounds and, for some reason, an anonymous individual who was clearly suffering from a mental illness decided to physically disrupt a member of President Trump’s team in the middle of a very solemn ceremony,” he said.
Gold Star father says Biden-Harris ‘rejected’ son’s military service as he honors fallen Afghanistan soldier in California
President Joe Biden sits in a beach chair as his wife, Jill, crouches behind him, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. The president, who is not seeking reelection, is vacationing with several family members. (Lee Greene)
Harris, meanwhile, has been conspicuously absent from public events and memorials to service members, only releasing a statement on Monday morning while President Biden was on consecutive holidays in California and Delaware. Biden also released a White House statement last week honoring fallen service members.
Arlington National Cemetery staff ‘uncertainly pushed aside’ during Trump visit won’t file charges: Army
President Trump took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to mark the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, which killed 13 US soldiers during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. (Pool)
The controversy over the visit to Arlington Cemetery intensified this weekend when Harris posted a message on Saturday attacking President Trump’s visit to the cemetery.
“Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there which resulted in an altercation with cemetery officials. Let me be clear: the former President disrespected this sacred site for political stunts,” she posted.
Republicans criticize Harris for being ‘last person in the room’ when Biden asked for Afghanistan withdrawal
Shortly after the post, a flurry of messages came from the Trump campaign, Trump supporters and Gold Star families condemning Harris’ comments about X. Families of those killed in Afghanistan accused Harris of “playing politics” and blamed the Biden-Harris administration for the deaths of the 13 service members.
“Your administration killed my son,” said Steve Nikoui, father of Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui. “You were not even present at Dover for his dignified transfer … you never called him by name and paid him respects.”
‘You’re fired’: Trump vows to give everyone responsible for ‘Afghanistan disaster’ firing notices on day one
“It’s been three years since my son was killed in action and I, my family, or any other Gold Star family has received no support from you or this administration,” said Herman Lopez, father of Corporal Hunter Lopez.
“Why did they have Trump there? It wasn’t to support his political campaign,” Mark Schmitz, father of Marine Corporal Jared Schmitz, said in the video. “We were looking for leadership, which is why they didn’t call you and Joe.”
Three years on, Afghanistan war veterans haven’t forgotten — have you?
“Out of respect and reverence for all the military personnel buried there, we invited President Trump to take a video and photograph at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” Huber said.
Gold Star father recalls knock on door ‘changed everything’
Mr Huber added that Mr Trump had “supported us from the beginning”, and accused Ms Harris of “playing politics” over the incident.
In response to Harris, Trump published each video in a quote post on his X account.
The Trump campaign also condemned Harris’ message, and Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, called on Harris to focus on opening an investigation into the deaths of the 13 soldiers rather than posting on social media.
Biden-Harris administration in ‘denial’ of failed Afghanistan withdrawal, says HR McMaster
“President Trump was there at the invitation of the families who lost loved ones due to your incompetence,” Vance posted on Saturday on X. “Why don’t you take yourself off social media and start investigating their needless deaths?”
Caroline Leavitt, national spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, added on X that “Kamala’s foolishness led to one of the most shameful incidents in American history, resulting in the deaths of 13 brave American soldiers.”
“Kamala Harris bragged that she was the last person in the room with Joe Biden when he decided on his terrible Afghanistan withdrawal plan,” Leavitt posted. “She has never mentioned their names. She has never reached out to their families. This alone makes Kamala undeserving of being elected. Kamala has already proven she would be a dangerously incompetent commander in chief.”
Trump slams Biden as ‘incompetent’ for not firing generals after failed Afghan withdrawal
The failed withdrawal left 13 U.S. troops guarding Kabul airport dead and hundreds of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghan allies stranded in Taliban-controlled country. Critics such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) say the withdrawal paved the way for hostile countries such as Russia to invade Ukraine.
The Taliban eventually claimed control of Afghanistan after their withdrawal.
On August 29, Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz held their first in-person interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. (Bizayev Tesfaye)
Harris previously said that “Last person in the room” with Biden He told media he was “satisfied” with what was ultimately a fatal and chaotic operation before deciding to withdraw.
Other commenters and Trump supporters chimed in to attack Harris on social media, pointing out an infamous incident in 2021 when Biden was photographed checking his watch during a dignified transfer down the runway at Dover Air Force Base as soldiers returned home.
It’s not new that Gold Star families of those killed in Afghanistan have criticized Biden and Harris for the messy, botched withdrawal that left an estimated $7 billion worth of military equipment in the hands of the Taliban. Families of those killed three years ago have long been vocal that the Biden administration owes an apology to those who served, and in July some of the families joined them at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to again denounce the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal.
Harris’ ‘last person in the room’ video goes viral on 3rd anniversary of deadly Afghanistan attack
“Look at our faces. See our pain, our heartache and our anger. [The Afghanistan withdrawal] “The mission in Afghanistan was less than an exceptional success,” said Cheryl Juelz, aunt of Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee. “Joe Biden owes the men and women who served in Afghanistan a thank you and an apology.”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald J. Trump holds his first public campaign rally with his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) (not pictured), at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 20, 2024. It was Trump’s first public rally since he was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13. Photo by Bill Pagliano/Getty Images) (Bill Priano/Getty Images)
“While Joe Biden refused to acknowledge their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours with us in Bedminster,” Nicole Gee’s mother-in-law said at the Republican National Convention. “He allowed us to grieve and he allowed us to remember our heroes. Donald Trump knew all our children’s names, he knew their stories, and he spoke to us in a way that made us feel understood, as if he knew our children.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
When asked for comment on the eight videos sent by members of Gold Star families on Sunday morning, Harris’ campaign referred Fox News Digital to Harris’ White House statement from last week about the anniversary.
“Today and every day, I mourn and honor them. My prayers are with their families and loved ones. My heart is broken by their pain and loss. These 13 dedicated patriots represented the very best of America, putting their beloved country and their fellow Americans above themselves and going to risk their lives to keep their fellow citizens safe,” Harris said in a statement, which included the names of each service member who died in 2021.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
