Trump defends conduct at Arlington cemetery: 'I wasn’t doing it for publicity'

Former President Trump defended his earlier conduct at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery whereas at a marketing campaign cease in Pennsylvania Friday, saying he was not simply attempting to get publicity for his appearance marking the anniversary of the 2021 Kabul airport assault that killed 13 U.S. service members.

Trump, on the occasion in Johnstown, Pa., stated the relations of these killed throughout the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan requested him to go to the cemetery as they honored their family members. He added that after the wreath-laying ceremony, the households additionally requested him to accompany them to the graves and take an image with them.

“I wasn’t doing it for publicity. I get a number of publicity,” the previous president stated. “I wish to get lots much less publicity. I’m the one man that may rent a public relations company to get much less publicity.”

Trump additionally claimed the accusation that he was utilizing the graves for public relations was “put out by the White Home,” calling it a “shame” as he accused President Biden of being to blame for the service members’ deaths over his dealing with of the Afghanistan withdrawal. 

However the cemetery itself confirmed that an incident happened, and a report was filed because of this. NPR first reported that an official for the cemetery had a confrontation with Trump marketing campaign workers members when the workers member tried to cease the crew from photographing and filming part of the cemetery generally known as Part 60 — the place lately killed troopers who served in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried. 

That part can also be closed to press. 

A supply informed the outlet that the staffers pushed the official aside as they tried to cease them from coming into. 

“Federal regulation prohibits political marketing campaign or election-related actions inside Military Nationwide Army Cemeteries, to incorporate photographers, content material creators or every other individuals attending for functions or in direct help of a partisan political candidate’s marketing campaign,” the cemetery stated in a press release.

“Arlington Nationwide Cemetery strengthened and broadly shared this regulation and its prohibitions with all individuals. We are able to affirm there was an incident, and a report was filed,” it added, with out offering further particulars.

Steven Cheung, the Trump marketing campaign communications director, denied that any physical altercation happened.

“The actual fact is {that a} non-public photographer was permitted on the premises and for no matter purpose an unnamed particular person, clearly affected by a psychological well being episode, determined to bodily block members of President Trump’s crew throughout a really solemn ceremony,” he stated after the reported incident.

Cheung additionally posted a message he obtained on social platform X that he stated confirmed Trump was allowed to have a photographer and videographer current. 

The Trump marketing campaign additionally shared a press release from relations of two of the service members that stated, “The president and his crew carried out themselves with nothing however the utmost respect and dignity for all of our service members, particularly our beloved kids.” 

The previous president stated on the rally that he’s “so completely happy” the relations took footage of him and them collectively on the tombstones. He additionally praised those that defended him in saying they requested him to go to the graves with them. 

“They stated we requested him to be right here, and we wish him to be there all the time,” Trump stated. “And I simply suppose that’s nice, and we love you all.”