Gold Star Families Back Trump in Dispute Over Arlington Photo Op: We Wanted These Moments ‘Respectfully Captured’

(Photo by Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto via AP)

Gold Star families who met with former President Donald Trump during his visit to Arlington National Cemetery put out a message of support for him following a controversial photo-op.

The GOP nominee visited the cemetery to lay wreaths at the graves of U.S. servicemembers who died during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. However, an official physically blocked members of Trump’s team, which reportedly resulted in an altercation, because only cemetery representatives are allowed to take videos and photographs in Section 60 — an area in the gravesite where recent U.S. casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan are buried.

The cemetery put out a statement about the alleged altercation between Trump’s team and the cemetery official. “Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” according to the statement. “Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”

However, Gold Star families released a statement on Wednesday claiming that the former president had the approval to take videos and photographs during his visit to the burial site.

“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to President Donald J. Trump for his presence at the recent section 60 gathering, honoring our children and their fallen brothers and sisters,” the statement read. “On the three-year anniversary of the Abbey Gate Bombing, the president and his team conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity for all of our service members, especially our beloved children.”

The statement was made on behalf of the Families of Sergeant Taylor Hoover , Sergeant Nicole Gee , and Purple Heart recipients retired USMC Sergeant Taylor Vargas-Andrews , and retired USMC CPL. Kelsee Lainhart .

The families added, “We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever. We are deeply grateful to the president for taking the time to honor our children and for standing alongside us in our grief, offering his unwavering support during such a difficult time. His compassion and respect meant more than words can express.”