Senator Tom Cotton blasted Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their absence at Arlington National Cemetery to honour the servicemen and -women killed during the disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, three years ago.
Cotton appeared on MSNBC on Sunday to defend Donald Trump against accusations that he had politicised the ceremony and used his presence there as part of his political campaign, by taking photos with the families.
“These families—Gold Star families—whose children died because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s incompetence, invited [Trump] to the cemetery, and they asked him to take those photos,” Cotton said.
“You know who those families also invited? Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
“Where were they? Joe Biden was sitting at a beach. Kamala Harris was sitting at her mansion in Washington, DC.”
“She was 4 miles away — 10 minutes,” Cotton said, referring to Harris, whose resident is in the grounds of the US Naval Observatory. “She could’ve gone to the cemetery and honored the sacrifice of those young men and women, but she hasn’t.
“She never has spoken to them or taken a meeting with them,” he continued.
Cotton went on to blame Biden and Harris directly for the deaths of the 13 service members during the withdrawal from Kabal airport.
“It is because of her and Joe Biden’s incompetence that those 13 Americans were killed in Afghanistan.”
Senator Cotton’s remarks came after the Gold Star families issued a blistering series of video statements against Kamala Harris on social media.
In one of those videos, Herman Lopez, father of corporal Hunter Lopez, told the Vice President that she her claim to be a supporter of the US military, and of the families of fallen service members, was totally false.
“You indicated in your post that you support the military and military families,” Mr Lopez said in his video, posted to Twitter.
“I for one have not seen that support. It’s been three years since my son was killed in action, and myself, my family and other Gold Star families have not seen any support from you or your administration.
“You may make all the promises about the economy or anything else you would like to make promises about, but the one thing I ask of you, and the reason I’m making this message, is for you to stop making comments about your support for the military. As a Gold Star father I know that you have not supported us, that you have not supported other Gold Star families.
Mr Lopez added, “Your words are hollow and empty.”
On Saturday, the Vice President issued a statement condemning Donald Trump for filming a video during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, last Monday.
“As Vice President, I have had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery several times. It is a solemn place; a place where we come together to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation,” Harris Tweeted.
“It is not a place for politics.
“And yet, as was reported this week, Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there, resulting in an altercation with cemetery staff. Let me be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt.”
Harris went on to describe Trump as a “man who is unable to comprehend anything other than service to himself.”
She added, “it is my belief that someone who cannot meet this simple, sacred duty should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States of America.”
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