Donald Trump has come under fire for what many are calling a “disgraceful” display at Arlington National Cemetery. During a visit to commemorate the third anniversary of the terror attack at Kabul’s Abbey Gate, where 13 American servicemembers lost their lives, Trump was photographed giving a thumbs-up and smiling while standing at the graves of soldiers who died in the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
The former president’s appearance at the Virginia cemetery was meant to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers, including Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover and 12 others who died in the attack.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who attended the event, shared an image on X (formerly Twitter) and emphasized the gravity of the sacrifice made by the servicemembers. “There’s no greater sacrifice than giving one’s life in defense of our country,” Cox wrote. He praised the opportunity to honor Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover and the other 12 fallen soldiers.
However, Trump’s demeanor drew sharp criticism. Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, slammed Trump’s “unusual” gesture in the photo. Kinzinger also reminded viewers that Trump’s administration was responsible for negotiating the deal that led to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“Smiling thumbs up at the grave is unusual to say the least,” he wrote on X. “Never mind that Trump negotiated the ‘deal’ and is the reason we left.”
The criticism intensified after another photo surfaced, showing Trump also giving a thumbs-up and smiling at the grave of Sgt. Nicole Gee. This image, shared by the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, was labeled as “disgraceful” by the organization.
Trump today with thumbs up at the grave of a soldier. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/scwq6bVhFF
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 26, 2024
The event also saw Trump sharing the stage with former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, an Army Reserve officer, who later endorsed him. Gabbard criticized the Biden administration’s foreign policy and expressed her support for Trump’s return to the White House, citing increased global tensions and potential nuclear threats as key reasons for her stance.
Despite the Trump campaign’s attempts to blame the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal on the Biden administration, it was Trump’s administration that initially negotiated the terms for a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops. Trump had even planned to host Taliban leaders at Camp David in September 2019 before the meeting was ultimately canceled.
