Former President Donald Trump Posted a series of videos on X From Gold Star parents whose children were killed during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal — in which they blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for being “responsible for the deaths of 13 of our children.”
Earlier on Saturday, Harris criticized Trump on social media siteHe said they had “disrespected sacred ground” by staging a “political stunt” at a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor 13 US service members killed in an ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul airport on August 26, 2021.
Trump's campaign also brought photographers to the event last week. which allegedly led to a physical altercation With a cemetery employee.
Family members of military personnel killed in the war hit back at Harris' comments, blaming the vice president for the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan and criticizing her for a lack of support.
“Your recent comments regarding Trump's recent visit to Arlington are filled with lies and deception,” Jim McCollum, the father of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Riley J. McCollum, said in one of eight Gold Star family videos posted by Trump to X late Saturday night.
The grieving father asked, “How can you sleep at night, knowing that you are responsible for the deaths of our 13 children?”
The controversial incident took place in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where three of the 13 military personnel are buried. Although taking photographs in the cemetery is not prohibited, federal law prohibits campaign activities.
The US military claimed that a cemetery employee who was trying to prevent photographers from entering the premises was “abruptly pushed aside.”
The families denied the attack and claimed that they had requested to take photos and videos.
“We invited President Trump, we were the ones who asked to take the video and the pictures,” said Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover.
“This was not an attack that we saw or heard of happening. I don't know where all of this is coming from, but it's disgusting and disgusting,” the Gold Star father said.
“Our sons and daughters made the best of a difficult situation as they were trained to do, they adapted to the circumstances and overcame them all and emerged as heroes.”
Hoover also accused Harris of lacking “empathy” and “basic understanding.”
The families denied that the event was political and accused Harris and the Biden administration of refusing to contact them.
“President Trump and his team were respectful, they listened to our stories and didn't talk much,” said Christy Shamblin, Sergeant Nicole Gee's mother-in-law.
She further said, “Vice President Harris, I ask you, why don't you call us and tell us how you call my daughter-in-law's death a success?”
“You failed to acknowledge our children for three years and eight months, you failed to acknowledge me, you don't know me, you've never spoken to me,” McCollum said.
“You have thirteen families that have been waiting three years for a phone call … you've spit in our faces for the last time,” said Mark Schmitz, father of Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz
“Your administration killed my son, you were not at Dover for a dignified transfer … not once did you honor him by mentioning his name,” said Steve Nikoi, the father of Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoi.
“It’s been three years since my son was killed in combat and I, my family and other Gold Star families have received no support from you or your administration,” Herman Lopez, the father of Corporal Hunter Lopez, said in a video addressed to Harris.
Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance said Harris should “go to hell” for criticizing Trump over the Arlington trip at a campaign rally on Wednesday.
“The other thing that's even more disturbing to our veterans is that three years ago, 13 brave, innocent Americans were killed. And they were killed because Kamala Harris refused to do her job and there wasn't a single investigation or a single termination,” Vance said.
