In an unexpected turn of events, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were notably absent from the third anniversary commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery of the Abbey Gate incident in Afghanistan. According to reports from NBC News, sources within the White House and a staffer for Harris have confirmed that there was neither a formal invitation extended to the President and Vice President by the Gold Star families, nor any initiative on their part to attend the event. Such lackluster demonstrations of empathy and respect to those who have borne the cost of our nation’s defense clearly illustrate the disregard for these families in the Biden Administration.
Contrarily, former President Donald Trump was present at the ceremony to pay his respects, an occurrence that, it seems, some political circles can’t stomach. Central to these criticisms is that Trump had been seen taking photographs with Gold Star families at Arlington, a place where photography, supposedly, is frowned upon. Echoing this sentiment was White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who appeared to sneer at what he deemed a possibly self-aggrandizing act.
Kirby, representing an Administration headed by a supposedly camera-shy president, suggested that leadership can choose less ostentatious ways to show support for Gold Star families. He implied it was more fruitful ‘to work every single day’, preferably away from public gaze and media spotlight, to ensure these families are well catered for. It is indeed a strange parallel universe where ensuring these families feel seen and respected is recourse for criticism.
Implicating Trump’s team further, the Army has also allegedly made accusations against a Trump campaign staff member, claiming they unjustly pressured a cemetery staffer to permit the picture taking. The cemetery worker had presumably been attempting to uphold the cemetery’s photography restrictions at the time. Instead of focusing on the fact that Trump gave these families a much-needed spotlight, the conversation has been skillfully twisted to focus on petty protocol offenses.
Trump, however, offered a rebuttal as he defended his actions last week, clarifying that the pictures were not his idea but requested by a Gold Star family who wanted a picture at the grave of their fallen loved one. He scotched the notion of exploiting the situation for political gain, stating ‘While I was there, I didn’t ask for a picture. While I was there, they said, ‘Sir, could we have a picture at the grave?’’
The former president’s campaign indeed posted a TikTok video of the memorial ceremony, while Chris LaCivita, a co-manager of Trump’s campaign, posted another identical video on an undisclosed platform. Trump didn’t shirk from these revelations either — in fact, he defended them, stating that the initiator could have been the service members’ parents or another attendee.
Not stopping there, Trump took to the stage at a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he accused Biden of incompetence and laid the death of the service members at his feet. He rejected the proposition that he used the gravestones as ‘public relations services.’ Such accusations further fuel the unfounded narrative that Trump was politicizing the sacrifices of our nation’s war heroes for his gain.
The former president went on to flood an unspecified platform with videos featuring Gold Star families who supported him and criticized both Biden and Harris. Among the defenders was Darin Hoover, who questioned Harris’ absence from Arlington National Cemetery on ‘Aug. 26, 2024,’ a day when the families were remembering their loved ones. Nixon, representing the sentiments of several families, expressed deep disappointment with the Biden Administration for turning a blind eye to their loss.
A significant part of the discussion, which has been conveniently ignored by Harris and her backers, is a statement from the Gold Star families. They stated that it was they who invited Trump to join them on the anniversary of their children’s untimely passing. He was there to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, a detail that somehow slipped through the cracks in Harris’ narration.
Another grave allegation made by the families was against Harris, accusing her of twisting Trump’s visit into a political tool and an attempt to smear his actions. While Harris was busy formulating half-baked criticisms, the Gold Star families felt appreciated and remembered due to Trump’s respectful participation.
The videos were shared by Trump’s campaign as a rebuttal to a statement by Harris in which she accused him of disrespecting the Arlington National Cemetery during his visit. Instead of acknowledging the comfort and support these families felt due to his presence, Harris chose to dwell on his alleged ‘disrespect’ of the premises.
One can’t help but notice the contrast between the two administrations. While one chose to stand with the families in their time of memorial, sharing their grief and offering his support, the other remained noticeably aloof and disengaged, choosing to spin the situation into an opportunity for political bickering.
A clear pattern emerges of an administration eager to point fingers rather than acknowledging and rectifying their own shortcomings. The Biden Administration’s prudence and respect continue to come under scrutiny as they persistently fail to adhere and live up to the promises they presented to the American people.
To sum it all up, it seems that a solemn visit by a previous president, out of admiration and respect for Gold Star families, has been unjustly twisted into a tool for political defamation. All the while, the incumbent administration remains passively detached, glorifying the politics of protocol over genuine empathy and human connection with grieving Gold Star families.
Biden and Harris Snub Gold Star Families Event Once Again appeared first on Real News Now.
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