Trump Accuses Harris of Making Up the Arlington Cemetery Incident

GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump recently ramped up his accusations against the Democratic campaign. He claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris “made up” the story about a physical altercation at Arlington National Cemetery. This accusation has sparked heated discussions on both sides, with Trump’s supporters rallying behind him and Democrats throwing the allegantions back at Trump. But what really happened during the so-called Arlington Cemetery incident? More importantly, where does the truth lie?

The Alleged Arlington Cemetery Incident

On August 26, during a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump's campaign staff allegedly got into a physical altercation with a cemetery official. The U.S. Army confirmed that Trump’s staff “abruptly pushed” the official, who was attempting to enforce the cemetery’s strict rules against filming and photographing for political purposes.

The Arlington Cemetery incident came during a solemn event commemorating the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan, which took the lives of 13 U.S. service members. While the U.S. Army supported the cemetery's version of events, Trump's campaign quickly pushed back.

Donald Trump's Version: “Comrade Kamala Made It Up”

On Tuesday, Trump denied the allegations, turning the tables on Vice President Kamala Harris. In a fiery post on Truth Social, he wrote, “There was no conflict or ‘fighting’ at Arlington National Cemetery last week. It was a made-up story by Comrade Kamala and her misinformation squad.” Trump continued by accusing Harris and President Biden of trying to divert attention from their failures during the Afghanistan withdrawal, referring to the event as “the most embarrassing day in U.S. history.”

Trump’s campaign also stated they had video footage that would prove no altercation occurred, though that footage has yet to be made public. His team also attacked the cemetery official, claiming she was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode.”

The US Army Backs Official Involved in the Arlington Cemetery Incident

The U.S. Army stood by its employee, calling her actions professional and dismissing the Trump campaign’s negative characterization of her. They confirmed that Trump's team had been informed of the cemetery’s rules beforehand and that the official was simply trying to enforce them. The incident, according to the Army, was an unfortunate result of Trump’s staff disregarding these regulations.

The cemetery official chose not to press charges, reportedly fearing retaliation from Trump supporters. Despite this, the Army insisted she acted appropriately and that the Arlington Cemetery incident did indeed take place, lending credibility to the original story.

Kamala Harris’ Version: “He Did Too”

It didn’t help that Vice President Kamala Harris weighed in on the Arlington cemetery incident. She accused Trump of disrespecting “sacred ground” for the sake of a political stunt. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she expressed outrage at the way the situation unfolded, claiming that Trump’s visit was not about honoring the fallen but about furthering his political agenda.

Trump swiftly responded, sharing statements from Gold Star families who defended his visit. In one of the statements, the families expressed their dismay at Harris’ remarks, stating that Trump had been invited by them to honor their loved ones and accusing Harris of twisting the moment into a political spectacle.

Other Democrats Also Fire Back

Democratic officials quickly refuted Trump's claims, standing by the cemetery official and Harris. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that Trump’s visit was a personal invitation from the families, while Biden and Harris had not received similar invitations. Biden and Harris both released their own statements honoring the fallen soldiers from the Abbey Gate bombing.

As the back-and-forth continued, Democrats argued that the real issue here was Trump’s disregard for Arlington National Cemetery's sacred rules and traditions, something that, in their view, was emblematic of his lack of respect for American institutions.

Arlington Cemetery Incident: What Really Happened?

On one hand, Trump has fervently denied that any altercation occurred, claiming Harris fabricated the story to distract from her administration’s perceived failures. He has pointed to Gold Star families who supported his visit as evidence of his good intentions. On the other hand, the U.S. Army and Arlington National Cemetery have confirmed the incident, stating that their employee was treated unfairly while upholding established regulations. The Army’s statement, along with Harris’ comments, paints a picture of Trump’s team overstepping boundaries for political purposes.

At the center of the controversy is the question of credibility: Should the public trust the official account from the U.S. Army and the cemetery, or side with Trump’s insistence that this is part of a broader Democratic smear campaign? As this incident continues to fuel partisan debate, both sides seem locked in a battle over the narrative, leaving the public to decide where the truth lies.

Which side are you on? Who do you think blew the Arlington Cemetery incident out of proportion? Tell us what you think!