U.S. Army officials issued a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump’s campaign on Thursday, confirming that a staff member at Arlington National Cemetery was "abruptly pushed aside" during an altercation with members of Trump's team. The incident occurred during a controversial visit by the former president, which included taking photos and giving a thumbs-up over graves, sparking outrage from veterans and families of the fallen.
The Army's statement marked its strongest criticism yet of the visit, highlighting that Trump’s team had been explicitly warned by a Defense Department official that filming at the cemetery was against federal law. The campaign ignored these warnings, leading to a confrontation when an Arlington employee attempted to enforce the rules.
“Participants in the August 26th ceremony and subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations, and Defense Department policies prohibiting political activities on cemetery grounds,” the Army’s statement read. “An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside. This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism have been unfairly attacked.”
The altercation reportedly involved two Trump staffers pushing and verbally abusing the cemetery worker when she tried to prevent them from entering Section 60, where many of the most recent U.S. military casualties are buried. Trump’s team continued to verbally attack the employee afterward, with Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, dismissing her actions as "Trump derangement syndrome."
The confrontation has fueled criticism of Trump’s campaign, with many accusing him of exploiting the sacred site for political gain. Trump defended his visit during a campaign event in Michigan, claiming he was invited by families of fallen service members and was merely fulfilling their requests to take photos at their loved ones' graves.
However, the fallout continued to escalate, with some military families expressing anger over the unauthorized filming. Michele Marckesano, the sister of Master Sgt. Andrew Marckesano, whose grave is near the one filmed, called on visitors to respect the cemetery's sanctity.
Khizr Khan, whose son, Army Captain Humayun Khan, is buried in Section 60, also criticized Trump’s presence, questioning why he visited given his past derogatory comments about fallen soldiers.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the respect and decorum owed at military cemeteries, with calls from lawmakers and families for Arlington to release details of the altercation to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
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