Arlington altercation latest spat in Trump's controversial military messaging
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump during the National Guard Association of the United States' 146th General Conference & Exhibition at Huntington Place Convention Center on August 26, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Emily Elconin/Getty Images
An altercation between an Arlington National Cemetery employee and members of the Trump campaign has again highlighted former President Trump's past comments disparaging members of the armed services.
Why it matters: Trump has long touted himself as a champion of service members, but his history of jabs at the military offers a contrasting narrative.
Zoom in: Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery Monday for a wreath-laying ceremony remembering the third anniversary of a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members were authorized to take photographs or film in Section 60, the area of the cemetery where recent casualties are buried, NPR reported.
- The US Army confirmed in a statement that a cemetery employee was "abruptly pushed aside" while trying to enforce cemetery rules "which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds."
Catch up quick: Earlier this month, Trump contended the Presidential Medal of Freedom was the civilian "equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor."
- He asserted the distinction is "actually much better, because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor ... they're either in very bad shape because they've been hit so many times by bullets, or they're dead."
- That statement triggered a stark rebuke from Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Al Lipphardt, who lambasted Trump's comments as "asinine."
- Asked to clarify, Trump said to a local reporter: "When I say 'better,' I would rather, in a certain way, get it, because people that get the Congressional Medal of Honor — which I've given to many — are often horribly wounded or dead. They're often dead. They get it posthumously."
Zoom out: Those comments and the controversy at Arlington follow a series of condescending barbs directed at veterans over the years.
- He has repeatedly gone after the late Sen. John McCain, infamously declaring the former Navy pilot was not a war hero.
- "He was a war hero because he was captured," Trump said. "I like people who weren't captured."
- Even as recent as January, years after McCain death, the former president mocked the late Arizona Senator's war injury.
- In 2016, he went after retired 4-star Gen. John Allen, calling him "a failed general."
Friction point: Democrats have repeatedly bashed Trump over reports that he called U.S. Marines who died at Belleau Wood "suckers" and soldiers buried at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery "losers."
- Last year, former White House chief of staff John Kelly confirmed reports Trump called fallen soldiers "losers," among other details from a 2020 Atlantic story.
- Trump has denied those accounts.
He also faced criticism for a series of snubs while in the White House, such as when he canceled a World War I cemetery visit due to bad weather (He later said the Secret Service rejected his suggestion to drive).
- He also urged the state of Florida to only count ballots received by or cast on Election Day in the 2018 midterms — a move that would have disenfranchised service members voting abroad.
What they're saying: Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that there has been "no greater advocate for our brave military men and women than President Trump."
- Leavitt continued: "Under President Trump leadership, Veteran unemployment hit a record low, and he signed several historic pieces of legislation into law that reformed the VA, decreased Veteran homelessness, and improved Veteran education benefits."
Go deeper: Trump spends Memorial Day lashing out at "Human Scum," E. Jean Carroll, judges
