Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance downplayed reports that members of the Trump campaign shoved an Arlington National Cemetery employee enforcing policies at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday afternoon.
“I find it unbelievable that … a staff member had a small disagreement with someone and the media turned it into a national headline,” Vance said, referring to a dispute that was condemned by veterans and democratically elected officials as deeply disrespectful.
Vance continued to repeat the claim that vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, who served in the National Guard, “lied about his military service.”
Trump’s photo op in Arlington on Monday caused a stir when reports emerged that the candidate’s team had gotten into a physical altercation with cemetery staff who were trying to inform the campaign of a rule that prohibits filming in an area where recently fallen U.S. soldiers are buried. The cemetery confirmed the altercation in a statement to NPR and said the campaign’s activities were prohibited.
“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election activities at U.S. Army military cemeteries, including photographers, content creators, or others who are there for the purpose of or in direct support of the campaign of a partisan political candidate,” the cemetery’s website said.
As the cemetery notes in its media policy, filming for political purposes or to raise funds is prohibited under the Hatch Act, which prohibits public officials from engaging in political activity in the workplace.
Vance, whose candidacy has been plagued by resurfaced tapes and embarrassing public appearances, criticized the Biden administration’s response to the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan, which he referred to as “Abbey Road” in a verbal slip of the tongue when asked about the Arlington clash.
Vance accused Vice President Kamala Harris of “falling asleep at the wheel” for failing to investigate the incident, a duty that goes far beyond the scope of the vice president’s duties.
“She can go to hell,” Vance said of Harris.
