Army 1st Lt. Jimmy McCain, son of late Sen. John McCain, blasted former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, calling it a “violation” of the sacred site.
During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, McCain expressed outrage over Trump’s decision to visit the cemetery, despite his father’s past criticism of the site being used for a campaign ad in 1999.
McCain emphasized the importance of respecting the fallen service members buried at Arlington, stating that the cemetery is a “sacred area” where people go to “show respect for the men and women who have given their lives for this country.”
The comment comes after Trump’s visit to the cemetery, which was met with criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris, who described it as a “political stunt.”
Trump responded to the criticism by releasing videos of the 13 fallen U.S. service members who lost their lives during the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, slamming Harris for “playing politics” and releasing a “heinous, vile and disgusting” statement.
McCain’s criticism of Trump’s visit was not the only controversy surrounding the event, as NPR reported a “verbal and physical altercation” between Trump campaign officials and a cemetery official who had been attempting to prevent them from filming and taking photos in Section 60 of the cemetery.
A Trump campaign spokesman responded to the allegations by stating that a “private photographer was permitted on the premises,” and sharing a photo showing Trump with an official photographer and/or videographer outside of the main media pool.
The controversy has sparked a heated debate over the use of Arlington National Cemetery for political purposes, with many criticizing Trump’s visit as a “violation” of the sacred site.
