Former President Donald Trump posted videos from Gold Star parents criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for the deaths of their children during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Harris had previously criticized Trump for staging a political stunt at a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for the 13 US service members killed in Kabul on August 26, 2021. The incident at the cemetery involving photographers led to a physical altercation with a cemetery staffer.
Family members of the service members killed in action defended Trump’s visit to Arlington and criticized Harris for her lack of support and involvement in the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. One father, Jim McCollum, accused Harris of lying and deceit and questioned how she could sleep at night knowing she was responsible for the deaths of the 13 service members. The controversial incident occurred at Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where three of the fallen service members are buried.
The families denied that there was an assault on the cemetery staffer and claimed that they had requested photos and videos be taken during Trump’s visit. They also criticized Harris for lacking empathy and understanding, accusing her of failing to acknowledge and support them for over three years. Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, spoke out about the heroism of the fallen service members and criticized Harris for her lack of response.
The families continued to blast Harris and the Biden administration for their refusal to reach out to them and for labelling the visit as political. They praised Trump for his respectful visit and listening to their stories, contrasting it with Harris’s lack of communication and acknowledgment of their losses. Mark Schmitz, Steve Nikoui, and Herman Lopez, fathers of fallen service members, criticized Harris and the administration for failing to honor and support them over the years.
Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance also criticized Harris, telling her to “go to hell” for her comments on Trump’s Arlington visit and accusing her of failing to investigate and fire those responsible for the deaths of 13 Americans. The families of the fallen service members emphasized their frustration and lack of support from the Biden administration and Harris, demanding explanations for the failure to acknowledge their losses. Christy Shamblin and other parents expressed disappointment in Harris’s lack of response and acknowledgment of their loved ones.
Overall, the Gold Star parents expressed their anger and frustration with Harris and the Biden administration for their failure to support and acknowledge the sacrifices made by their children. They praised Trump for his respectful visit and support, while criticizing Harris for her lack of empathy and understanding. The incident at Arlington National Cemetery sparked a heated political debate, with accusations and counter-accusations between the families of the fallen service members and Vice President Harris.
