Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee have requested a detailed report from the U.S. Army following a dispute involving an Arlington National Cemetery employee and staff from former President Donald Trump’s campaign. The altercation occurred during Trump’s visit to the cemetery on August 26, 2024, for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marking the anniversary of the Kabul bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the committee’s ranking member, addressed Army Secretary Christine Wormuth in a letter seeking a full account of the incident. The altercation arose when Trump’s campaign staff brought their own photographers to Section 60 of the cemetery, where recent veterans are buried. This led to a confrontation with a cemetery employee, who was reportedly “abruptly pushed aside.”
House Oversight Committee Demands Army Report on Altercation Between Trump Campaign Staff and Arlington Cemetery Employee
An Army spokesperson described the incident as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that the employee’s professionalism had been unfairly criticized. Federal law prohibits political campaign activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, including photography for partisan purposes. The cemetery’s guidelines, which align with the Hatch Act, ban any activities related to political campaigns.
Defense officials have indicated that Trump’s campaign staff displayed unprofessional behavior, both verbally and physically, towards the cemetery official. Despite this, the Trump campaign claims it had permission from Gold Star families to bring campaign-designated media. The campaign spokesperson denied any physical altercation and offered to release footage to refute these claims.
In response to the incident, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who attended the ceremony with Trump, apologized for posting event photos on social media, stating it was not intended for campaign use. Raskin has requested the Army to provide an incident report and briefing by September 9, 2024, to clarify the situation and ensure adherence to cemetery regulations.
