Gold Star families who lost loved ones during the Biden-Harris administration’s chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal have strongly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her recent comments about former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery last week.
Harris accused Trump of “playing politics” during his visit, but eight Gold Star families, who said they invited Trump to the ceremony, released a series of videos responding to her remarks. These videos came after Harris published a statement on Saturday criticizing Trump for taking photographs during a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday.
“As Vice President, I have had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery several times,” Harris said. “It is not a place for politics. And yet, as was reported this week, Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there, resulting in an altercation with cemetery staff.”
However, the Gold Star families pushed back strongly against Harris’s claims. In one video, Mark Schmitz, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, called Harris’s statement “heinous, vile, and disgusting.”
“Why did we want Trump there? It wasn’t to help his political campaign,” said Schmitz. “We wanted a leader. That explains why you and Joe didn’t get a call.”
Darren Hoover, the father of Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, said Harris lacks “empathy and understanding” regarding Monday’s ceremony.
“In keeping with the reverence and respect that is given to all members of our military that are buried there, we invited President Trump,” Hoover said. “We are the ones that asked for the video and the pictures to be taken at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
Hoover also emphasized that Trump “has been there for us from the very beginning,” and criticized Harris for “playing politics.”
“You should be ashamed and embarrassed by your lack of empathy and decency as a human being,” Hoover added. “You are only in this for the power and prestige. You don’t care for our military or the citizens of this country.”
The backlash against Harris is growing as these families continue to express their discontent with her remarks.