Trump “was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris has disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy,” families say.
The Gold Star families of the 13 soldiers who fell during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal issued a scathing statement condemning Kamala Harris for politicizing President Trump’s attendance at the ceremony in Arlington honoring their relatives.
Harris on Saturday had accused Trump of staging a “political stunt” that “disrespected sacred ground” where many Afghanistan war dead are buried following reports a photographer with his campaign got into an “altercation” with an Arlington staffer last week.
The Gold Star families set the record straight, claiming Trump had entered Section 60 of the cemetery at their invitation.
“President Trump was invited by us, the Gold Star families, to attend the solemn ceremonies commemorating the three-year anniversary of our children’s deaths,” said the relatives’ joint statement. “He was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris has disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.”
MUST READ: Statement to Kamala Harris from Gold Star Families pic.twitter.com/DOeX5MPrKp
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) September 1, 2024
Their statement went on to accuse Harris of “bearing responsibility” for their loved ones’ deaths and criticized her for ignoring them.
Vice President Harris bears responsibility for the deaths of our sons and daughters. Her administration’s catastrophic mishandling of the Afghanistan withdrawal directly led to the murder of 13 service members, including our children. Despite our multiple requests for a meeting to discuss the loss of our loved ones, Vice President Harris has repeatedly ignored us, showing a complete lack of empathy and accountability. This refusal to face the consequences of her administration’s decisions is a deep betrayal to us as Gold Star families.
President Trump, on the other hand, has been the only Commander-in-Chief to consistently recognize the heroism of our children. His attendance at Arlington was not for political gain but to stand with us, to grieve with us, and to honor the legacy of those who gave everything for this nation. His leadership during his time in office was strong, and we have no doubt that if he were still Commander-in-Chief, our children would be alive today.
Vice President Harris has proven herself unfit to serve as Commander-in-Chief. Her actions, both in the failure of the Afghanistan withdrawal and in her disgraceful politicization of this anniversary, have shown that she lacks the judgment, compassion, and leadership required for the position. We will continue to hold her accountable for the role she played in the deaths of our children, and we will not stand by as she disrespects their memory. America deserves better. Our children deserved better.”
Harris and Biden were both notably absent from the solemn occasion.
Trump thanked the family members for their statement on Truth Social.
“Thank you for saying you wanted me to stand with you … and take pictures, that it was your request, not mine,” he wrote Sunday.
Trump on Saturday had also shared videos from 8 different Gold Star family members blasting Kamala’s politicization of the Arlington ceremony and defending Trump’s attendance.
Mark Schmitz, Father of Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/pRLF9tS7Jn
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Darin Hoover, Father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/ANQaSfjcUs
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Coral Doolittle, Mother of Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/dz3UfvhVLB
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Jaclyn Schmitz, Mother of Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/MeACvB310r
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Steve Nikoui, Father of Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/e7uRJo8ViA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Jim McCollum, Father of Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/BQWZIcZjka
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Herman Lopez, Father of Corporal Hunter Lopez… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/4S7Yb1kZeO
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Christy Shamblin, Mother-In-Law of Sergeant Nicole Gee… https://t.co/CHNRzcTa0J pic.twitter.com/aAtRHE454N
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
This media-contrived hit piece about Trump’s Arlington visit perpetuated by Harris has been utterly obliterated by the Gold Star families in real time and Harris is left humiliated in the process.
