On October 26, 2024, the U.S. Army released a heavily redacted police report concerning an incident involving a staff member from former President Donald Trump’s campaign. This event took place in August when the campaign aide allegedly pushed a worker at Arlington National Cemetery. The Army categorized the incident as a “simple assault.”
The report detailed that on August 26, during a visit to the cemetery, the Trump staffer attempted to push past the cemetery employee, who was enforcing restrictions on photography within the cemetery grounds. The names of both individuals involved were redacted from the report, which had been requested by American Oversight, a group advocating for government transparency and ethics. After a legal challenge, a judge ordered the Defense Department to disclose the documents.
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According to the findings, the cemetery worker did not require medical attention at the time of the incident and later declined to press charges. The Army, while releasing the report, stated that the law enforcement investigation into the incident remains open and thus further comments would not be provided at that moment.
The incident occurred on the same day that Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, commemorating the third anniversary of the deaths of 13 U.S. service members during an Islamic State attack outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. Following the ceremony, Trump visited a restricted area of the cemetery known as Section 60, where the altercation took place.
Arlington National Cemetery had previously emphasized that federal law prohibits political campaign activities within military cemeteries, including photography. An Army representative noted earlier that the Trump aide had “abruptly pushed aside” the cemetery employee while attempting to move past him to take photographs, which is against the cemetery’s regulations.
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In August, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign denied aspects of the incident, asserting that no physical altercation occurred as described in reports. Instead, they claimed an unnamed individual had decided to obstruct Trump’s team members, portraying the staff’s actions in a more favorable light.
The ongoing scrutiny surrounding Trump concerning military matters has intensified recently, especially following remarks made by his former chief of staff, John Kelly. In interviews published this week, Kelly characterized Trump using the term “fascist,” claiming he praised Adolf Hitler and raised doubts about the selflessness of service members who had fallen in battle during a 2017 visit to Arlington.
Furthermore, it was reported that Trump expressed a desire for “the kind of generals that Hitler had” in a private conversation at the White House. Trump has since denied making such statements, as reported by The Atlantic, emphasizing that he never made those remarks.
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the incident at Arlington National Cemetery involving a Trump campaign aide and a cemetery worker reflects ongoing tensions related to Trump’s conduct and the implications of political activities within military spaces. The Army’s report adds to the scrutiny Trump faces as he navigates his political ambitions alongside his past actions and statements regarding military personnel and issues.