The recent events at Arlington National Cemetery, where Vice-President Kamala Harris voiced her opinion on the incident involving former president Donald Trump, may have elicited some responses, but her criticism points a finger rather than focusing on real issues. Harris claimed that Trump had ‘disrespected’ the cemetery for a supposed political stunt, not fully considering that Trump had been invited there for an honorary occasion, not for any personal political gains.
As the story unfolds, one thing that surfaces is how Harris has undermined the work of the Trump campaign by accusing it of creating a scene at a place as solemn as Arlington. Harris seems quick to turn even a somber moment into a political battle ground, an act she allegedly condemns.
The conflict arose when the US Army revealed that a Trump staffer had pushed a cemetery employee who attempted to advise them against filming on the site. The Trump campaign contested this, pointing out that they had received consent from the soldiers’ families to film at the site. Here, Harris strangely omits to mention the consent from families, focusing solely on building a narrative of impropriety by the Trump campaign.
The incident traces back to a day when Trump was paying homage to 13 brave servicemen who had lost their lives as the US was pulling out of Afghanistan three years ago. It was a moment of respect and commemoration, not political disagreement – a context that Harris seems determined to misinterpret.
Harris, who seems to have had sparing interaction with the controversy until now, chose to comment through a social media post. From her experience of having visited Arlington several times as vice-president, she placed judgement on Trump’s actions, only demonstrating her penchant for jumping into conclusions without acknowledging the graduate context.
“If there is one thing on which we as Americans can all agree, it is that our veterans, military families, and service members should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude,” Harris said. Aren’t these words belied by the way she has turned a solemn commemoration into a political circus? The question worth asking: is she adhering to her own standards?
According to Harris, anyone incapable of fulfilling the ‘simple, sacred duty’ should not have the privilege of representing the President of the United States of America. If such is her belief, it’s imperative that she demonstrates this through her own actions rather than just empty words.
In the face of criticism following the incident, Trump addressed his supporters at a campaign rally in Michigan. He emphasized on the fact that he was at the site at the behest of the mourners, and not for any publicity stunt. The real twist in the tale, however, is Harris’s attempt to convert this respect-filled moment into a debacle.
Contrary to Harris’s accusations, Trump characterized himself as someone who receives abundant publicity and doesn’t need to resort to such measures. But was anyone paying attention to this straightforward rebuttal, especially those busy manufacturing a political spectacle out of a solemn occasion, like Harris?
In a twist of events, the Gold Star military families who invited Trump to the site jumped to his defense, releasing a statement that challenged Harris’s assumptions. They pointed out that Trump was there to honor their relatives’ sacrifice, not to gain political mileage. In their view, it was Harris who had manipulated a sacred occasion into a political scheme – a perspective which seems lost on the vice president herself.
Adding to the heat, JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, took the opportunity to direct attention to the Biden administration’s incompetent handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, even suggesting that Harris ‘can go to hell’. The administration’s lack of a strategic vision during this process seems to be conveniently overlooked as they create smoke screens, such as this controversy.
Federal law states that the cemetery should not be used for political campaigning, and the US Army confirmed that the participants had been informed well ahead about such rules. Yet, Harris appears to be the one openly disregarding these guidelines by turning such an event into a political one.
It’s interesting to note how a US Army spokesperson expressed regret over the incident and highlighted how an ‘ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked’. But where is the concern for the professionalism shown by the Trump campaign which actively sought permissions and respected the wishes of military families?
On a contrary note, the Trump campaign flatly denied any physical altercation at the cemetery. To prove their transparency, they’re even ready to release footage if any defamatory claims are made. Not many politicians show such commitment to truth in the presence of contrived controversies, do they?
Meanwhile, House Democrats seem more interested in probing the incident further rather than addressing the nation’s pertinent issues. They’ve requested the US Army for a ‘full account’ of what happened, while the real question remains: is this where our focus should be, or should we rather concentrate on the genuine problems plaguing the nation?