Controversy continues to swirl around former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, following reports of an altercation between Trump campaign staff and a cemetery caretaker. The person apparently tried to prevent photos from being taken in Section 60 of the cemetery, where photography is prohibited.
Trump visited the cemetery to commemorate the deaths of 13 American soldiers in the Abbey Gate attacks during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
More information: Army defends cemetery official.
A member of Trump’s team pushed past the officer in Section 60, allowing the photography to continue, USA TODAY reported. Photos of Trump, family members of slain soldiers and others were taken at military graves and later posted to social media.
Members of the military, Democrats and others criticized Trump for using the cemetery for political purposes, a violation of federal law.
What was Trump doing at Arlington National Cemetery?
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That morning, Trump laid three wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, also known as the Tomb of the Unknowns. The wreaths were laid in honor of those who died in the suicide bombing in Afghanistan:
◾ Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole L. Gee23, from Sacramento, California.
◾ Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover31, from Salt Lake City.
◾ The third wreath honored all 13 service members – 11 Marines, one Navy Corpsman and one Army sergeant – who died in the attack.
Trump then went to section 60 of the cemetery.
What is Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery?
Section 60 is a 14-acre parcel of the cemetery. It is reserved primarily for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Arlington National Cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. military. Arlington officials require permits for media and other organizations to take photographs or record footage in the cemetery.
While individual visitors are allowed to take photographs, federal law prohibits taking videos or photographs for “partisan, political or fundraising purposes.”
Prohibited activities include “photographers, content creators or other individuals present for the purpose of supporting or directly supporting the campaign of a partisan political candidate,” USA TODAY reported.
What happened in Section 60?
There is no greater sacrifice than to give your life in defense of our country. It was a solemn privilege to stand with the family of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover today at Arlington National Cemetery as we paid tribute to his legacy and the 12 others who lost their lives… photo.twitter.com/tR6dhpMYsB
— Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) August 26, 2024
Trump visited Section 60 with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican running for reelection in 2024, and grieving family members who wanted Trump there, the Washington Post reported. Media reporters and photographers were kept away from the section.
Trump laid bouquets at the gravestones of two Marines, Sgt. Nicole Gee and Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. Family members accompanied him.
NPR was first to report that Trump campaign staff were filming in Section 60. A cemetery official tried to stop Trump staff from entering the section, but “campaign staff insulted the official and pushed him aside, the source said,” NPR wrote, citing an anonymous source with knowledge of the incident.
A senior Defense Department official familiar with the incident at Arlington National Cemetery told USA TODAY it was a minor scuffle. No charges have been filed.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, told USA TODAY that “there was no physical violence as described.”
Three of the 13 American soldiers who died in the Afghan suicide bombing are buried in Arlington. The other 10 are buried in cemeteries near their birthplaces.
Contributors: Rachel Barber, Josh Meyer, Zac Anderson, Tom Vanden Brook, Dan Morrison, Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY
SOURCE USA TODAY Network Reporting and Investigation; Reuters; arlingtoncemetery.mil
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery Photo Incident Explained
