On Wednesday’s episode of “Morning Joe,” MSNBC contributor Mike Barnicle accused former President Donald Trump of using Arlington National Cemetery as a “prop for a political campaign.”
On Monday, former President Donald Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the 2021 Kabul airport terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members during the Afghanistan withdrawal.
“I know a lot of military veterans were very uncomfortable with the idea that Donald Trump was there at all. He even at one point posed with family members with a big smile and thumbs up,” host Jonathan Lemire said.
“We should note some of the family members did the same, that’s their right. Donald Trump seemingly very strange would do the same,” he added.
“Jonathan, I looked at the same pictures that you’re alluding to now and describing, taken at Arlington taken of the former president, and the thought rolled immediately through my mind, is nothing sacred? That is sacred ground,” Barnicle said.
“And the idea that any candidate of any party would use, intentionally or unintentionally, use that sacred ground as a prop for a political campaign is beyond condemnation,” he continued.
“It’s terribly upsetting, obviously, to people who have buried loved ones in Arlington National Cemetery. It’s terribly upsetting to veterans and terribly upsetting to people who view it as a spectacle,” he added.
“And it ought to be for Americans who value what the military does for this country worldwide and has done for this country for centuries and will continue to do for this country,” he said.
WATCH:
“That is sacred ground and the idea that any candidate of any party would, intentionally or unintentionally, use that sacred ground as a prop for a political campaign is beyond condemnation.” @mikebarnicle on a picture of Trump posing with thumbs up at Arlington National Cemetery pic.twitter.com/saQPyPAKN5
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) August 28, 2024
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Whiners will whine. Maybe the Leftist Media didn’t notice, but Donald Trump ALWAYS has held the military in esteem! This was no photo op. Democrats always accuse Republicans of being as despicable as themselves.
Not this time! What he tried to do is USE our honored dead and their grieving families as a political prop! I’m sick that he has reverted to his past “colors”, so much he would do that, but the Arlington staffer was correct to prevent them using that for a tool! There are laws, not just internal rules, prohibiting any filming by non-staff personnel in “active” burial sections of Arlington National Cemetery, and it was just plain disrespectful to try, based on “permission” from 1 family. Official filming is scheduled when the section is closed to all visitors, so no families’ privacy is intruded on!
You fell for fake news. President Trump was invited. He did not ask to be invited. The proof is in a letter. I posted the link, which will be here for you to see when it is approved. Here is what it says in part: “Darin Hoover [the father of Staff Sgt Taylor Hoover] .bluntly explained the situation and why the families wanted Trump at the ceremony.”
Get over yourself. He was invited because they know he supports the military whether it’s veterans or serving. No doubt the families asked for the pictures, Trump doesn’t exactly need the publicity, it was a nice touch for the families as a keepsake for the younger ones.
I didn’t notice any Democrats in the picture maybe because they weren’t invited.
Why do people like you always have to find fault? This was and always will be a memorable day for the families, having Trump there was the icing on the cake for them.
In this case, he evidently did try to do so, against extant laws! Arlington is NO ONE’s “sound byte”!
and Trump never asked to be invited, troll.