Family members of 13 U.S. soldiers killed during the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan have criticized Vice President Kamala Harris' comments criticizing President Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
Darin Huber, father of Marine Sergeant Taylor Huber, Coral Doolittle, mother of Marine Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, Jacqueline and Mark Schmitz, mother of Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, Steve Nikoi, father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoi, Jim McCollum, father of Marine Lance Corporal Riley McCollum, Herman Lopez, father of Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez, and Christy Shamblin, stepmother of Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee, all criticized Harris' comments in a video posted by former President Donald Trump on Truth Social.
In the video, the families praised Trump for treating them with “the utmost respect, compassion and understanding,” taking “time” to listen to their “stories,” and helping them “get accountability” from the Biden administration. They criticized Harris for “playing politics” and making “vicious, vile and repulsive” statements that were “political spin” to improve her own image.
“Kamala, we have been treated with the utmost respect, compassion and understanding by President Trump, but you and Joe Biden have refused to do that since August 26, 2021,” Huber said in the video. “Where were you and Joe Biden on August 26, 2024? Nowhere near Arlington Cemetery. You didn't bother to be with us or even say our children's names, as you have done for the past three years. Neither of you have called to speak with us or share your grief. Kamala, are you sleeping peacefully in your own bed at night, or are you having nightmares about your children because it is your incompetence and negligence that got our children killed? You are the ones who put out a message of total lies on social media. You are the ones who disrespected our families. You are the ones who know nothing about service and sacrifice. You are the ones who divided this country. And you are the ones who are unfit to be Commander in Chief. This is the only memory we will ever have with our son. And you are the ones trying to tarnish the memory of that day by playing politics.”
The video from the Gold Star family was released after Harris criticized Trump. post On Monday, Mr. X visited Arlington National Cemetery and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate 13 American soldiers who had fallen in battle, and was ordered to take photographs.
“As vice president, I have had the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery several times,” Harris wrote. “It is a solemn place, a place where we gather to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is not a place for politics. However, as reported this week, Donald Trump's team chose to hold a video shoot there, which led to an altercation with cemetery officials.”
Harris went on to claim that Trump had “disrespected sacred ground for political stunts,” referencing a false rumor (since denied) that Trump had called fallen soldiers “morons” and “losers.”
“If there's one thing we all Americans can agree on, it's that our veterans, military families, and service members should be honored, never disrespected, and treated with the utmost respect and gratitude,” Harris wrote. “And I believe that no man who fails to fulfill this simple and sacred duty should ever again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States. I will always honor the service and sacrifice of America's fallen heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our beloved country and cherished freedom.”
As Vice President, I had the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery several times. It is a solemn place, a place where we come together to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
It is not the place for politics.
and…
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2024
“President Trump's event at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 26, 2024 will be a solemn one, consistent with the respect and veneration due to all of the military personnel interred there, and we have invited him to attend,” Huber said in a statement. video President Trump also shared, “We are the ones who asked to take a video and photo at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
Huber's video was released days after NPR published a story about Trump campaign associates getting into an “altercation and physical altercation” with cemetery officials who tried to stop them from filming and taking photos at Section 60 of the cemetery.
In response to the article and the allegations, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Chang released a statement saying “a personal photographer was allowed on the grounds.”
“Kamala, what you say is nothing more than political spin to make you look good in your presidential campaign against Donald Trump,” Jacqueline Schmitz said. said “You have never stood with us. Our children have been killed because of your administration. And you bear some of the responsibility for that. What happened at Arlington? President Trump was invited by the families of those who have soldiers buried there,” she said in the video.
Jacqueline Schmitz added that “one thing” Harris said in her statement was true.
“If she can't respect our military members, their families and our veterans, she shouldn't be running for president,” Jacqueline Schmitz added. “So that would mean Kamala should step down.”
Steve Nikoy criticized Harris video “They ignored the advice of their generals, the Doha Agreement and the advice of countless veterans and members of Congress.”
“You have never once offered me condolences or thanked me for Kareem's sacrifice and service,” Nikoui said. “You have never once honored him by calling him by name. That's why I speak for you: You have shown disrespect to all 13 people who lost their lives and their families, and have shown your lack of gratitude by your silence. I agree with you on one thing: someone like you should not and will never hold the presidency.”
Mark Schmitz explained in the video that he was responding to a “vicious, vile and disgusting post” by Harris, who claimed Trump visited the cemetery on Monday as a political stunt.
“We are currently enjoying a beautiful holiday weekend and while I am spending time with my remaining family, I must stop what I am doing and address the heinous, vile and disgusting posts by Kamala Harris attempting to incite those who do not abide by the truth that President Trump was in Arlington for a political stunt,” Mark Schmitz said in the video. “This shows how little you know about these 13 families.”
