Military responds to controversy surrounding Trump’s cemetery visit

Donald Trump caused a stir with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. There are reports of a physical disturbance with a cemetery worker.

The US military has spoken out in the controversy surrounding a visit by former US President Donald Trump to Arlington National Cemetery. A spokesman said that a worker at the cemetery had been “suddenly pushed aside.” Republican presidential candidate Trump commemorated the US soldiers killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan three years ago by laying a wreath at the cemetery near the US capital, Washington, on Monday. There were subsequent reports of a dispute between Trump’s team and cemetery workers.

The military spokesman now explained: Those who took part in the ceremony were informed of applicable laws, army regulations and Ministry of Defense guidelines which clearly prohibited political activities on the cemetery grounds. A cemetery worker who tried to ensure compliance with these rules was eventually sidelined. The employee acted professionally and decided not to file a complaint, the military spokesman said. “Therefore, the military considers this matter closed.”

The spokesman did not give any information about who pushed the cemetery worker aside. She simply said it was “regrettable” that an employee had been “unjustly attacked.” The dedicated staff of the National Cemetery would continue to ensure “that public ceremonies are held with the dignity and respect that the nation’s dead deserve.”

The US broadcasting organization, NPR, had previously reported that two Trump employees insulted and pushed aside a cemetery worker during the visit when he wanted to stop filming and photography on a certain part of the site. A Trump spokesperson responded and wrote that a photographer was allowed. He further explained that the cemetery worker apparently suffered from a “mental disorder” and physically restrained members of Trump’s team.