Former President Donald Trump has shared videos of family members of fallen soldiers responding to Vice President Kamala Harris’s criticism of his recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery. On August 26, Trump laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery to commemorate the third anniversary of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. During the event, he was accompanied by family members of fallen service members.
Vice President Kamala Harris wrote a lengthy post on August 31, accusing Trump of playing politics at the venue. She stated that honoring veterans and military families should be a shared value among Americans and criticized Trump for disrespecting sacred ground for political gain.
In response to Harris’s criticism, Trump uploaded videos on Sunday featuring eight family members who lost loved ones in Afghanistan. Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover who was killed in an ISIS terrorist attack outside Kabul airport last year, expressed gratitude towards Trump for his support during their time of grief.
Mark Schmitz, father of Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz who also died in the attack, accused Harris of trying to incite those who don’t follow the truth and emphasized that they invited Trump to be there as a leader rather than for political reasons.
Other family members echoed similar sentiments, stating that they welcomed Trump’s presence at the event and appreciated his willingness to listen to their stories. They also criticized Harris and her administration for failing to provide adequate support or explanations regarding their loved ones’ deaths.
Regarding an incident during the August 26 event at Arlington National Cemetery, a spokesperson from the cemetery confirmed that there was an “incident” but did not provide further details. The spokesperson emphasized that political campaign or election-related activities are prohibited within Army National Military Cemeteries.
Trump’s campaign spokesman denied claims about a physical altercation but acknowledged that an unnamed individual physically blocked members of the Trump team while accusing them of suffering from a mental health episode.
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), who ran as Trump’s vice presidential candidate in 2024, also criticized Harris’s post and called for an investigation into unnecessary deaths caused by her administration’s incompetence.
Harris had previously defended Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in a statement issued on August 26. She highlighted how eliminating terrorists can still be achieved without deploying troops into combat zones while ensuring national security against terrorist threats.
Last year, representatives from eight out of thirteen service member families participated in discussions hosted by Congress demanding accountability and resignations within Biden’s administration following the Kabul attack.