Trump Aides Accused Of Arlington National Cemetery Altercation

Two members of former President Donald Trump s campaign reportedly had a verbal and physical altercation on Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery who tried to stop them from filming in an area where recent U.S. military casualties are buried.

NPR first reported details of the incident, which took place as Trump held a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the third anniversary of an attack on American troops as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. Thirteen service members were killed during the attack at Kabul airport, a tragedy the former president has blamed on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris .

A source told NPR that staff at the 639-acre national cemetery in Virginia had let the Trump campaign know that only cemetery officials are allowed to take photos or video in Section 60, where recent casualties are buried. But Trump staffers reportedly attempted to do so anyway.

When an Arlington National Cemetery official tried to stop them, the two campaign staffers verbally abused and pushed the official aside, NPR reported.

From NPRs @QuilLawrence: Arlington National Cemetery officials say Trump campaign staff verbally abused and pushed aside cemetery official who objected to filming and photography at gravesites

More below and to follow on NPR pic.twitter.com/xQN2JEbCnG

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From NPRs @QuilLawrence : Arlington National Cemetery officials say Trump campaign staff verbally abused and pushed aside cemetery official who objected to filming and photography at gravesites

More below and to follow on NPR pic.twitter.com/xQN2JEbCnG
David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) August 27, 2024

In a statement to media outlets, Arlington National Cemetery confirmed that there had been an incident on Monday, adding that a report had been filed.

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 candidates campaign, the cemetery, which is maintained by the U.S. Army, said in a statement. Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.

The Trump campaign, in remarks to NPR, maintained it did nothing wrong and had video footage to prove it. HuffPost has reached out to the campaign for further comment.