The Trump campaign has been embroiled in controversy following an altercation involving two of its staffers at Arlington National Cemetery. The staffers have been identified as deputy campaign manager Justin Caporale and Michel Picard, a member of Trump’s advance team, NPR reports.
The incident took place last week outside Section 60 of the cemetery, where many casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. According to multiple reports, the confrontation began when an Arlington Cemetery employee attempted to enforce rules prohibiting photography. The employee was reportedly verbally abused and then pushed aside by Picard.
The Army has confirmed that the cemetery employee was assaulted and that the campaign had been warned about the photography restrictions. The Army said that while a police report was filed, the employee chose not to press charges amid fears of retaliation, and the matter has been considered closed.
Following the altercation, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung defended the staffers, claiming they had permission to film and suggesting the employee was experiencing a “mental health episode.” The campaign also released a TikTok video featuring Trump at the gravesites, which included images of tombstones that some families had not authorized for public use.
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In a striking turn, former President Trump publicly denied the incident occurred. On Truth Social, he described the reports as a “made up story” and criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and her team. In an interview with Sean Hannity, Trump reiterated his denial and downplayed the allegations, questioning the motives of the unnamed employee and suggesting the story was politically motivated.
The campaign’s response has been muddled, with promises to release footage of the incident yet to be fulfilled. This controversy underscores ongoing challenges for Trump’s reelection bid, including mixed signals on various issues and criticisms of the upcoming presidential debate format.
The Arlington incident, coupled with Trump’s conflicting statements, has intensified scrutiny on his campaign’s handling of sensitive matters and highlights a growing disconnect between Trump’s public statements and his campaign’s actions.
