Donald Trump caused a stir with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. There are reports of a physical altercation with a cemetery employee.
The US military has spoken out in the controversy surrounding a visit by former US President Donald Trump to the National Cemetery in Arlington. A spokesman said that a cemetery employee was “abruptly pushed aside”. Republican presidential candidate Trump had laid a wreath at the cemetery near the US capital Washington on Monday to commemorate the US soldiers killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan three years ago. Afterwards, there were reports that there was an altercation between Trump’s team and employees of the cemetery.
Military: Cemetery employee behaved professionally
The military spokesman now clarified that the participants in the ceremony were informed of applicable laws, army regulations and Ministry of Defense guidelines, which clearly prohibit political activities on the cemetery grounds. A cemetery employee who tried to ensure compliance with these rules was eventually pushed aside. The employee behaved professionally and decided not to press charges, said the military spokesman. “The military therefore considers this matter closed.”
The spokesman did not say who pushed the cemetery worker aside. He simply said it was “regrettable” that an employee had been “unjustly attacked.” The dedicated staff of the National Cemetery would continue to ensure “that public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect that the nation’s fallen deserve.”
Trump’s team defended itself against allegations
The US broadcasting organization NPR had previously reported that two Trump employees had insulted and pushed aside a cemetery employee during the visit when he tried to prevent filming and photography in a certain part of the grounds. A Trump spokesman responded and wrote that a photographer had been allowed. He further explained that the cemetery employee had probably suffered from “a mental disorder” and had physically blocked members of the Trump team.
Source: Stern
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