A video shared by the Trump campaign includes responses from Gold Star families who criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for condemning former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery, arguing that it is actually Harris who is politicizing the deaths of their loved ones. The VP had accused Trump of staging a “political stunt” and “disrespecting sacred ground” in a tweet on Saturday, following his appearance at an event marking the third anniversary of the deaths of 13 U.S. troops during President Joe Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal.
The families say in the video: “Vice President Harris… our kids were murdered because of your administration… You were not at Dover for the dignified transfer ceremony, and at no time have you reached out to me to offer condolences, a thank you for their sacrifice and service. You have 13 families who have been waiting for three years to so much as get a phone call. To so much as hear our kids’ names said out loud. You’ve failed for three years and eight months to acknowledge our kids. Where were you and Joe Biden on August 26, 2024? Nowhere near Arlington Cemetery.
They added: “You couldn’t be bothered to be with us or even say our kids’ names. Just as you have done for the last three years. Vice President Harris, I ask you, why won’t you return a call and explain to us how you called my daughter-in-law’s death ‘a success’? President Trump called, and President Trump shows up. President Trump takes the time to hear our loved ones’ stories. We invited them to be there. These are the only memories we get to make with our son, and it is you who are playing politics and trying to detract from our memories.”
WATCH:
Enough said …. pic.twitter.com/ePqzMka6Aq
— Chris LaCivita (@LaCivitaC) September 1, 2024
Harris as well as Biden were both invited by the same Gold Star families who invited Trump to commemorate the loss of their loved ones, according to multiple reports. However, they refused to show up while Trump made the time to be there on the solemn occasion — a fact that was not lost on the families.
“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 families in a joint statement. “He was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris has disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.”
During Sunday’s edition of “Meet The Press,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a former U.S. Army Ranger and veteran of the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, further defended the former president against the Harris Campaign’s smear. “Bottom line though, I guess, Senator, is it ever appropriate to make campaign content at military gravesites?” host Kristen Welker asked. Cotton responded: “He didn’t take campaign photos. There are these families, Gold Star families, whose children died because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ incompetence, invited him to the cemetery. And they asked him to take those photos.”
“Because as they told me yesterday when I spoke to Kelly Barnett and Darren Hoover, the parents of Taylor Hoover, who has Arkansas ties, they don’t get to go to the beach on Labor Day. They don’t get to have barbecues. This is their one chance to have a memory of their children to commemorate their service and to honor their sacrifice. They wanted President Trump there,” he said. “They wanted to take those photos. You know who the family’s 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, D.C.”
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