Debate continues in Washington after former President Trump's visit to the National Cemetery

2024-09-02 20:00:03, Kosova & Bota CNA

Debate continues in Washington after former President Trump's visit to the

Relatives of several US servicemen killed in the line of duty voiced support for former President Donald Trump on Sunday after criticism that his aides photographed and filmed in a restricted area of ??Arlington National Cemetery last week. The critical voices were joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president on behalf of the Democrats. As Voice of America correspondent Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports, Ms. Harris called former President Trump's visit to the cemetery "a political maneuver."

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris joined criticism of former President Trump's campaign team for filming last week during his visit to Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60. Political activities are strictly prohibited by federal law and Pentagon regulations.

Vice President Harris addressed the issue in a message Saturday on the X Network, where she wrote that "the former president disregarded sacred ground, all for the sake of a political maneuver."

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Saturday reiterated his claim that he was invited by relatives of service members who were killed in a terrorist attack while withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2021.

"Although I hadn't thought about it, they asked me if we could take a picture at the gravestone of the fallen boys. I said absolutely yes. I don't need publicity. I have more ," said former President Trump.

His campaign team on Saturday released a statement and video messages from some of the families of fallen soldiers in support of his visit.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was asked on ABC whether he thinks former President Trump's campaign team crossed a red line.

"I am in favor of examining the event. But what is unfortunate is that the families had to visit the fallen in Arlington because of the incompetence of the Biden administration... Growing terrorism, combined with problems at the border - another 9/11 is coming ," said the Republican Senator. Lindsey Graham.

In terms of securing the border, Vice President Harris' vision would be the most effective, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said. He was asked if that would include building a border wall and how that differs from former President Trump's approach.

"The border wall that Donald Trump has proposed is a huge waste and waste of taxpayers' money. He has talked about a wall along the entire border and not about the effective use of barriers of various kinds. Kamala Harris wants to secure the border in the most efficient way possible ," said Governor Polis.

Vice President Harris continues the campaign on Monday with events in Michigan and Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, her electoral team will begin a bus tour of the United States, with the theme "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" from Florida.

The Trump-Vance electoral team will have activities on Tuesday in Georgia and Arizona./ VOA