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The controversy surrounding Trump’s visit escalated when a groundskeeper allegedly got into a brief confrontation with a member of Trump’s staff during the wreath-laying ceremony. Media outlets quickly seized on the incident, portraying it as evidence of a staged political event. However, Gabbard strongly refuted this narrative, arguing that the media’s focus should instead be on the significance of the day and the sacrifices of the Gold Star Families.
In a pointed comparison, Gabbard contrasted Trump’s actions with those of Vice President Kamala Harris, who she claimed had failed to adequately support the families of 13 American service members killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago. “I know President Trump wanted to share that with others, especially given the fact that President Biden [and] Harris, I heard, were invited by some of these family members. They not only didn‘t come, they didn‘t even respond to that invitation,” Gabbard noted. She criticized Harris for issuing a public statement expressing solidarity with the military and veterans without taking any direct action to console the affected families.
Gabbard further emphasized the deep sense of betrayal felt by the Gold Star Families toward Harris’s inaction. “Given she has not made any effort — not on that third anniversary or any other time — to call them directly to offer her condolences and even apologies for their decisions that led to the loss of their loved ones,” she added. The former congresswoman’s remarks underscored the frustration and anger that some military families feel towards the current administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
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Reflecting on her own experiences as a soldier, Gabbard expressed her appreciation for the Gold Star Families who defended Trump’s visit to Arlington and recognized his effort to honor their loved ones. “I’d just like to say one last thing on this because I think it’s important and I’ve seen a lot of the headlines and the stories and the concerns that people are raising about this. But to me as a soldier and as someone who has been deployed to different war zones in the world, I have friends who are buried there at Section 60,” she said.
Gabbard concluded by criticizing the media for failing to adequately cover the third anniversary of the deaths of these 13 service members. “What is more outrageous to me is that there wasn’t universal coverage of the momentous day of the third anniversary of the loss of these 13 Gold Star Families,” she stated. “And the outrage that they feel that their loved ones are not getting the kind of coverage and memory that their great sacrifice deserves. That is what everyone should be outraged about.”
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Adding to Gabbard’s defense, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, confirmed that campaign staffers were indeed given permission to film the ceremony at Arlington. He also expressed readiness to release the footage if necessary. “We are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made,” Cheung said. He dismissed the incident involving the groundskeeper as the actions of “an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode,” and criticized the media for blowing the event out of proportion during what was meant to be a respectful and solemn occasion.
Gabbard’s fierce defense of Trump’s actions at Arlington underscores a growing frustration among conservatives regarding what they perceive as unfair media bias. As this story continues to unfold, it serves as yet another flashpoint in the ongoing culture war between the mainstream media and those who challenge its narratives.
