An army spokesman said Thursday that a female official at the Army National Cemetery was “suddenly pushed aside” during a conflict with the Trump campaign due to political activities and photos taken on the ground earlier in the week, but the employee decided not to press charges.
The army spokesman called the incident “regrettable” and said it was “also regrettable” that “the cemetery worker and her professionalism were unfairly attacked.”
The Trump campaign continued to fight what Arlington National Cemetery described as an “incident” Monday when Trump visited the cemetery with Gold Star families including family members died during 2021 withdrawal The Trump campaign said it received explicit permission from the Gold Star families to bring “campaign-designated media” into Section 60 of the cemetery. Messages reviewed by CBS News confirmed that the campaign received explicit permission from the families.
However, the rules in place at Army National Cemeteries are dictated by federal law, which prohibits any filming for partisan, political or fundraising purposes, according to Arlington National Cemetery’s media policies, even if there are requests from family members of the dead.
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“The ANC conducts nearly 3,000 such public ceremonies per year without incident,” the Army spokesman said. “Participants at the August 26 ceremony and the subsequent Article 60 tour were briefed on federal laws, Army regulations, and Department of Defense policies, which clearly prohibit political activity at cemeteries. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure compliance was abruptly removed. Consistent with the decorum expected at the ANC, this employee acted professionally and avoided any further disruption.”
Defense officials previously told CBS News that some Trump campaign staffers were unprofessional and verbally and physically aggressive toward the cemetery manager.
The incident was reported to the Military Police Department, but the Arlington Cemetery employee decided not to press charges, so the Army said it considered the matter closed.
“This incident is regrettable, and it is equally regrettable that the ANC employee and her professionalism have been unfairly attacked,” the army spokesperson said. “The ANC is a national shrine to the fallen of the armed forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure that public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect that the nation’s dead deserve.”
Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung told CBS News earlier this week that there was “no physical altercation as described and we are prepared to release footage if such defamatory allegations are made.”
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