WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris said former President Donald Trump “disrespected sacred ground” in his latest look at Arlington National Cemetery, in which the Republican nominee took and distributed photographs Inspite of a federal prohibition on marketing campaign action to the grounds.

Harris, in an announcement posted Saturday to the social websites platform X, cited reviews that Trump's campaign aides produced an altercation having a cemetery staffer and proceeded to consider photographs and movie the former president, which includes on the graves of Afghanistan war veterans, right after becoming warned about guidelines at the site.

“Allow me to be obvious: the former president disrespected sacred floor, all to the sake of a political stunt,” Harris reported, contacting Arlington a “solemn location where we appear collectively to honor American heroes ... not a place for politics.”

The initial incident stemmed from Trump’s and Republicans’ ongoing criticism of President Joe Biden and now Harris for your chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Within the invitation of some close relatives of support members killed over the withdrawal, Trump laid wreaths final Monday in honor of Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover and Personnel Sgt. Ryan Knauss. They had been among the 13 U.S. assistance members and much more than 100 Afghans who died read more within an Aug. 26, 2021, bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Trump’s marketing campaign was warned about not having pictures right before an altercation on the cemetery, according to defense officials. Officers have stated due to the fact that an Arlington staff whom two Trump campaign personnel associates allegedly “verbally abused and pushed” apart has declined to press rates. The Trump campaign has considering that lashed out at Pentagon officers, using a top marketing campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, referring to military spokespersons as “hacks.” Trump campaign officials say it experienced authorization to convey somebody to just take online video.

Because Biden ended his reelection bid, Trump is zeroing in on Harris and her roles in international coverage selections. He has precisely highlighted the vice president’s statements that she was the last person inside the area ahead of Biden designed the choice on Afghanistan.

Biden’s administration was pursuing a withdrawal motivation and timeline which the Trump administration experienced negotiated Together with the Taliban in 2020. A 2022 critique by a governing administration-appointed Distinctive investigator concluded conclusions produced by both equally Trump and Biden ended up The crucial element components resulting in the quick collapse of Afghanistan’s navy as well as the Taliban takeover.

Harris on Saturday alluded to Trump's historical past of choosing fights with veterans and recurring allegations that he has “identified as our fallen assistance associates ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ and disparaged Medal of Honor recipients.”

“This can be a man that is not able to comprehend just about anything besides support to himself,” Harris stated. “I'll constantly honor the support and sacrifice of all of America’s fallen heroes. ... And that i will never politicize them.”