WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris claimed previous President Donald Trump “disrespected sacred floor” in his recent visual appearance at Arlington Countrywide Cemetery, where the Republican nominee took and distributed pictures Even with a federal prohibition on campaign action within the grounds.

Harris, in an announcement posted Saturday within the social networking platform X, cited reports that Trump's marketing campaign aides established an altercation which has a cemetery staffer and proceeded to choose photos and movie the former president, such as at the graves of Afghanistan war veterans, after remaining warned about procedures at the location.

“Let me be crystal clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all with the sake of a political stunt,” Harris stated, contacting Arlington a “solemn area in which we come alongside one another to honor American heroes ... not a place for politics.”

The first incident stemmed from Trump’s and Republicans’ ongoing criticism of President Joe Biden and now Harris for the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Within the invitation of some close relatives of support members killed over the withdrawal, Trump laid wreaths final Monday in honor of Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover and Personnel Sgt. Ryan Knauss. They had been among the 13 U.S. assistance associates and much more than 100 Afghans who died within an Aug. 26, 2021, bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Trump’s campaign was warned about not having pictures in advance of an altercation in the cemetery, In keeping with defense officials. Officers have said considering that that an Arlington staff whom two Trump campaign personnel users allegedly “verbally abused and pushed” aside has declined to press fees. The Trump marketing campaign has because lashed out at Pentagon officials, that has a top campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, referring to navy spokespersons as “hacks.” Trump marketing campaign officers say it experienced authorization to bring a person to acquire video.

Given that Biden ended his reelection bid, Trump has actually been zeroing in on Harris and her roles in overseas plan conclusions. He has specifically highlighted the vice president’s statements that she was the last individual while in the place in advance of Biden built the choice on Afghanistan.

Biden’s administration was next a withdrawal determination and timeline which the Trump administration experienced negotiated Along website with the Taliban in 2020. A 2022 evaluate by a governing administration-appointed Distinctive investigator concluded conclusions produced by both equally Trump and Biden ended up The crucial element components resulting in the quick collapse of Afghanistan’s navy as well as the Taliban takeover.

Harris on Saturday alluded to Trump's background of choosing fights with veterans and recurring allegations that he has “identified as our fallen provider associates ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ and disparaged Medal of Honor recipients.”

“This is a person that is not able to understand just about anything besides support to himself,” Harris stated. “I'll often honor the services and sacrifice of all of The us’s fallen heroes. ... And I won't ever politicize them.”