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In modern American politics, the vast majority of officials in both parties have taken care to treat the military, service members and veterans with respect. Donald Trump, for reasons that defy comprehension, has chosen a radically different path.
Over the last decade or so, the Republican has reportedly denigrated those who serve in the military and condemned fallen American heroes as “suckers.” (He denies doing so.) Trump has also complained bitterly about American military leaders, reportedly disparaged wounded veterans, blamed military leaders for failed missions he approved, downplayed the importance of traumatic brain injuries suffered by soldiers, feuded with Gold Star families, downplayed the significance of the Medal of Honor, and famously declared in reference to American prisoners of war, “I like people that weren’t captured, okay?”
But a different aspect of his disrespect for those who wear the uniform was on display this week.
Despite his record, the former president, seeing a possible campaign opportunity, appeared eager on Monday to exploit the third anniversary of a terrorist attack in Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 150 Afghans. This included attending a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, quickly followed by a thumbs-up photo-op at a gravestone in Section 60 of the cemetery, where many service members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried.
If we were to stop the story here, it would already be the basis for a legitimate controversy. Indeed, Esquire published a memorable headline alongside a Charles P. Pierce column this week: “How The Hell Was Trump Allowed To Use Arlington National Cemetery As A Campaign Prop?”
But that was before the story managed to get even worse. NBC News reported:
Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday confirmed an incident took place when former President Donald Trump visited there Monday to commemorate the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate attacks in Afghanistan. “We can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed,” the statement read.
The details of what transpired are still coming together. NPR reported, for example, that a source familiar said two members of Trump’s campaign staff “had a verbal and physical altercation” with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, but that hasn't been independently confirmed by MSNBC or NBC News.
Other relevant details, however, are clear.
“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” the statement added. “Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”
I’m mindful of the fact that multiple reports emphasized that Trump was at the cemetery at the invitation of some family members who lost loved ones in Afghanistan three years ago. That’s apparently true. But while those family members deserve respect and sympathy, politicians still aren’t supposed to exploit Arlington to advance their personal ambitions.
For its part, Trump communications director Steven Cheung denied any wrongdoing and accused an Arlington National Cemetery official of “suffering from a mental health episode” during the incident.
Cheung didn’t deny that the former president was accompanied by a photographer at Section 60, but he insisted the photographer was allowed to be there. Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita added that the cemetery official was “despicable.”
I don’t imagine we’ve heard the last of this story, but as it progresses, it’s hard not to wonder what the political world’s reaction might be if a Democratic candidate were caught up in a similar controversy. How many GOP officeholders would call for him or her to quit the race?