Chicago – September 02, 2024
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were not invited by Gold Star families to Arlington National Cemetery last week for the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack in Afghanistan, according to a White House official and a Harris aide. This statement contradicts claims made by GOP Sen. Tom Cotton and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
Former President Donald Trump visited Arlington last week and faced criticism for taking photos with Gold Star families in an area where photos are usually not allowed. The White House National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, said Trump’s visit was a “personal invitation by families.”
Kirby added that there are many ways to honor the Abbey Gate anniversary, including working quietly to support families of those who were hurt or killed in Afghanistan.
The Army also reported that a member of Trump’s campaign staff “abruptly pushed aside” a cemetery employee who was trying to stop photos and videos from being taken, which are restricted at the cemetery.
