Veterans Condemn Trump’s Desecration of Arlington Cemetery: ‘Campaigning on the Graves of Heroes Dishonors Soldiers’ Sacrifice.’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2024
CONTACT: Jacob Thomas| jacob@commondefense.us
Veterans Condemn Trump’s Desecration of Arlington Cemetery: ‘Campaigning on the Graves of Heroes Dishonors Soldiers’ Sacrifice.’
WASHINGTON, DC – Common Defense, the nation’s largest grassroots veterans' organization representing over 400,000 members and veterans, strongly condemns the Trump campaign’s disrespect of the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on the anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing. During this visit, Trump campaign staffers got into an altercation with an ANC official and “campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside,” according to NPR. When asked for an explanation, a Trump campaign spokesperson claimed that the ANC official was “suffering from a mental health episode,” without any basis for such a claim. Once again, the former president is proving that he only cares about military members and veterans when he can use them as props for his own selfish agenda.
Let us be clear, meeting with gold star families and veterans and commemorating the sacrifices of the bravest of our nation should be encouraged; however, it should NEVER be done by anyone for partisan political gain. Our troops, our military family members, and our country deserve better.
“Arlington Cemetery is sacred and hallowed ground where those who paid the highest price for our collective freedom should be able to rest in peace without being trampled on for a cheap campaign photo op.” – Jacob Thomas, Communications Director and Air Force veteran (TSGT, E-6)
This political stunt comes just a short few days after Trump’s disgusting comments cheapening our nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, and altogether shows Trump’s disdain and lack of respect for members of our armed forces.
“It is clear that to Trump, we, as veterans, are either ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ or political props to be exploited as he sees fit. We reject his selfish and un-American view of our service members, veterans, and military families who have sacrificed more for this country than he will ever care to understand.” – Joanna Sweatt, Organizing Director and USMC veteran (SSGT, E-6)
Trump should feel ashamed of this disrespectful, partisan-motivated stunt, but we won’t hold our breath for that because it is clear Trump lacks any sense of empathy or good-heartedness ever to feel shame regarding his actions. Monday’s illegal and disrespectful campaigning photo op is just one new bullet point on the long list of reasons why Trump is unfit to lead our nation and be Commander-In-Chief of our armed forces. The campaign also claimed in that same NPR story that they had video of the altercation with the ANC official – they should release the footage.
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Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.