By: Aliya Koshalieva

Media Editor

On Aug. 26, two members of former President Donald Trump’s campaign team were involved in verbal and physical altercations with an official at Arlington National Cemetery. The Arlington employee who filed the incident report to the military authorities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall chose to remain anonymous, saying she feared Trump’s supporters would harm her for the incident. The Army considers this matter “closed” since the employee decided not to press charges. 

Trump and his campaign staff were attending a wreath-laying ceremony honoring 13 US military service members who lost their lives at the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan’s Kabul Airport on Aug 26, 2021. Allegedly, the altercation between Trump and the military official stemmed from Trump’s campaign team filming videos at the site. A ceremony employee tried to stop Trump’s team from filming the area, and the campaign staff pushed the official aside, beginning the altercation. 

Trump posted a statement to Truth Social, saying the families of the fallen soldiers had given Trump their approval to attend the emotional military ceremony. “We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured, so we can cherish these memories forever,” the statement read. 

However, an Arlington official released a statement on Aug 29, saying, “Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations, and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside.” Section 60, the site of the altercation, is an area reserved for soldiers who died serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. The family of Master Sgt. Andrew Marckesano, a Green Beret who committed suicide after serving eight combat tours and is buried in Arlington, came forward and claimed Trump’s campaign team filmed his gravesite without asking Marckesano’s family. Michelle Marckesano, his sister, released a statement, saying, “We fully support Staff Sergeant Darin Hoover’s family and the other families in their quest for answers and accountability regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal and the tragedy at Abbey Gate. However, according to our conversation with Arlington National Cemetery, the Trump campaign staffers did not adhere to the rules that were set in place for this visit to Staff Sergeant Hoover’s gravesite in Section 60, which lies directly next to my brother’s grave.” The area also prohibits campaign photography. 

The Army stays away from highly political issues, making their statement a rare rebuke. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh issued a statement, vocalizing, “The Defense Department is aware of the statement that the Army issued, and we support what the Army said.” 

(Sources: CNN News, NPR, NYT, The Washington Post)