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Who The Hell Let Trump Into Arlington National Cemetery? (www.esquire.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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Well, luckily for the former president*'s campaign, it wasn't raining on Monday, when he grotesquely used Arlington National Cemetery as a campaign prop because, as we know, he gets a little nervous around soldiers' graves in the rain, and he says things that require him to lie his ass off later. Most recently, of course, he devalued the Congressional Medal of Honor in favor of a bauble he draped on Rush Limbaugh and the wife of one of the sleaziest of his sleazy donors.

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[-] TimLovesTech@badatbeing.social 175 points 2 weeks ago

I think the bigger story is that someone from the cemetery asked that they not shoot photos/video of the section of the cemetery they were in, and then Trump's campaign staff verbally and physically assaulted the cemetery staff.

So he has now disparaged soldiers at said cemetery, now exploited recently fallen soldiers laid to rest in said cemetery to try and cover for the prior disparaging (as well as the medal of honor), and then assault staff of said cemetery because they tried to stop them from exploiting the cemetery.

You know it's a cult because it's the only way to explain how veterans can look past his flagrant disdain for soldiers, and still stand by him while his campaign disparages Walz for his service.

[-] jballs@sh.itjust.works 53 points 2 weeks ago

It's not just that they were asked not to, it's a federal law. So just add another broken law to the pile I guess?

Also, look at this statement from Trump's campaign spokesperson. What kind of PR person talks like this?? Trumpism is a disease.

”...for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump's team during a very solemn ceremony."

[-] LustyArgonianMana@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

It's not just that, it's also that a man assaulted a woman doing her job AND THEN their spokesperson had the audacity later to basically call her hysterical for it.

[-] wolfpack86@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I'll give jack smith $20 to file charges

[-] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Also, the staff member has refused to follow up on any charges, because they fear retaliation from the cult of 45.

[-] linearchaos@lemmy.world 23 points 2 weeks ago

This one will get a few heads turned. Veterans dislike him screwing with vet care, but they can go either side will screw with veteran services.

Then pushing past an army card in uniform at a veteran cemetery, that will even piss off a significant number of his base.

[-] Glitterbomb@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

cemetery staff

Who exactly is staffed at this cemetery? I'm honestly not sure...Ive checked a few news sources and can only find 'an official.' Are they active duty military personnel? Did trumps team assault a uniformed soldier? Why isn't it being put this way anywhere?

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It involved the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier so it's entirely possible. I'm honestly impressed the Infantry guarding it didn't put the campaign staffers in the hospital.

[-] flicker@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I thought if you approach that particular monument, you get shot

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

That's the myth but no. There is a loaded weapon nearby, but it's not for overzealous tourists. Those guards do not need a weapon to put you back behind the rope.

[-] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 weeks ago

Bit of a mix I would guess. Civilian (GS federal employees) and Honor Guard "volunteers" from the various branches.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 weeks ago

veterans can look past his flagrant disdain for soldiers, and still stand by him while his campaign disparages Walz for his service.

It's absolutely shameful

[-] ZombieMantis@lemmy.world 113 points 2 weeks ago

My grandfather is buried in that cemetery. He joined the army to stop men like him from taking power.

The disrespect is palpable, he might as well spit on my Abuelo's grave while he's at it.

[-] frigidaphelion@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

I'm really sorry, that is infuriating.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 85 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Who The Hell Let Trump Into Arlington National Cemetery?

"When you're a star, they let you do it"

Edit: I was 100% making a joke, but it seems to actually be that: https://www.npr.org/2024/08/27/nx-s1-5091154/trump-arlington-cemetery

When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source.

[-] Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world 55 points 2 weeks ago

I think the question still stands. Who specifically let him in, because this was a failure of some sort of chain of command at the cemetery

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 25 points 2 weeks ago

Per the Arlington National Cemetery’s site (which is a .mil TLD) states:

The Office of Army Cemeteries (OAC), consisting of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army.

And when on guard duty, the greenest buck Private has full authority to stop the Secretary of the Army themselves if they refuse to provide identification and authorization for their presence at the posting said Private is guarding. So the correct and appropriate answer would have been to immediately restrain and arrest whoever was doing the pushing and intimidating, as well as any other shitass in the group who was trying to play fucky-fuck games like this.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 22 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Sure, but imagine being in that kid's position. Not only would you be attempting to detain a man (the former Commander in Chief, believe it or not) with his own Secret Service detail, but you would likely end up with a bunch of unwanted attention and subsequent death and rape threats from Trump supporters.

How sad is it that this is what this man has done to American politics? That so many people still support this gutter trash, really showing their true faces.

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 weeks ago

I get what you’re saying, but the correct response is still “call it in, then arrest his bitch ass”. Not to mention, I’d be a bit surprised if the duty officers don’t have some sort of prep briefing about politicians doing stupid shit in/around the cemetery, and specific guidelines on how to handle such asshattery.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe... But that's with the benefit of hindsight (and being nowhere near the actual situation).

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

What I mean is that in a more serious security situation, if a guard were to allow an unauthorized person into an area they were told to keep unauthorized people out of, the guard would probably be brought up on charges for dereliction of duty. The US Army is not the Russian Army; we actually take that shit fairly seriously (by we, I mean country-wise; I am not personally a serviceperson/vet).

Edit: not to mention, I’m pretty sure they do drills with senior officers playing the “bad guy” for specifically this reason, and you fail if you let the officer in just because he blusters/is an asshole to you. It’s just social engineering at the end of the day, and they train to mitigate it. It’s a major threat vector in basically ANY controlled space, regardless of whether it’s military or civilian.

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Oh no, if there was a military checkpoint there'd be a sergeant there too, and they do not give a fuck. Someone above them might fold and tell the sergeant to let them through but they will not back down. There's a lot of stories of people getting shot trying to force a checkpoint, and only a couple of someone actually intimidating a guard to let them through. USSS avoids such situations by not trying to force military checkpoints.

Arlington National Cemetery does not have such a checkpoint.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

Sure, but we're not talking about some random dude, are we? The man was literally the commander-in-chief of the US military for 4 years making him literally their boss.

On top of that, it's fucking Donald Trump and his (armed) cronies pushing the person aside.

Somehow I doubt some young Private working guard duty at a cemetery is going to opt to brandish his firearm against the US Secret Service in the presence of the former (and possibly future, ugh) President of the United States. They're not going to get into a fucking fire fight with the goddamn Secret Service at Arlington Cemetery. Get real.

If this were a military installation of some sort, or Gitmo or something, then yeah. But that shit ain't happening at a cemetery.

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Of course not. Because Arlington National Cemetery does not have a military checkpoint.

I'm pretty sure I said that above. Also if it was an actual military checkpoint it's not going to be one private. Also also the USSS avoids this by not forcing checkpoints and not allowing the people they protect to do so. Also also also, he's not their boss now. Also also also also, being your boss isn't a reason to be allowed through a checkpoint in the military.

I'm pretty sure I said 99% of this above and you just wanted to go after some cemetery shootout strawman.

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[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

It's not a base though, you can just drive into Arlington National Cemetery if you have someone buried there. He came in with family so the people at that end didn't have anything suspicious. It was probably luck someone was even nearby to notice the extra staffers.

[-] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

do they have the authority to keep him out completely? they drew a line at the new section which is where the altercation was.

[-] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 weeks ago

I don't know what rights the public have to Arlington but you could absolutely bar the equipment to do the photo shoot from entering.

[-] BalooWasWahoo@links.hackliberty.org 17 points 2 weeks ago

Another article says that federal law prohibits the actions the staff were, at that time, attempting to carry out. I would hope that a federal employee can enforce federal law.

[-] Kalkaline@leminal.space 5 points 2 weeks ago

It's a public cemetery, so I don't take issue with him being there and acting respectfully. The problem comes when he uses it as a publicity stunt and gives the thumbs up when he's placing the wreath.

[-] frezik@midwest.social 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's specifically against federal law to use military cemeteries for campaign purposes. Presidents often lay of wreath there on Memorial Day, but they're already President and not campaigning.

We have enough issues in the US with glorifying the military for political purposes. Let's not go backwards on this one.

[-] Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

it is not a public cemetery it is military property

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[-] fox2263@lemmy.world 48 points 2 weeks ago

He’s trying to pretend he likes the military after all the shit the last few weeks.

The other day he did a conference at some National Guard thing.

He’s disgusting.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 32 points 2 weeks ago

Imagine being (former or current) military, and voting for this clown. After literally, explicitly insulting you several times. Unreal.

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago

I can't imagine it and I am former military. If he had done none of his shit up until now, this would disqualifying on it's own. It's hard to put into words just how sacred that soil is when you've watched coffins go into cargo planes at 3 in the morning.

[-] wolfpack86@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Good faith question: what are the chances you are in a very small minority? How will military members who weren't deployed into combat react?

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

The military loves Trump so much that the active duty guys voted blue in 2020. I don't want to say it's some kind of democratic awakening in the military, it's not. But the military conservatives refused to vote for him in large numbers.

The largest section of support for him in the veterans community is the older generation. The GWOT generation runs about 50/50 voting and from what I can tell it's much the same as civilians for people willing to fight for him. If they're in Qanon or a racist militia then yeah. But most of us really aren't.

There are stunts he pulled with the military that civilians weren't really aware of. He tried to force the regular army to go after protestors, a huge nono. He lied about casualties overseas, as family were being notified with red cross messages. He refused to honor our dead. He stole funding from K-12 schools for military children. And he constantly shit talked leaders we knew were our best and ten times the man he could ever be.

That's on top of the stuff everyone knows about, like denigrating John McCain, disabled people, and Gold Star families.

So yeah, it's not a small minority. Half of us fully hate him. A quarter of us wish the Republicans would run someone else.

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[-] Badeendje@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

In the picture from the cemetery is a guy with a leg prosthetic. If he is a purple heart vet.. how could he not use his prosthetic to beat the man that insulted him and everyone like it.

[-] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 36 points 2 weeks ago

Aw cut him slack, he looks great in a cemetery! I think he should do it more often.

[-] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

I look forward to the day he becomes a permanent resident of one

[-] CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

I don't envy the groundskeeper of that place. People will be using that plot as a bathroom for years.

[-] pubquiz@lemmy.world 34 points 2 weeks ago

Perhaps more importantly, who let that photo of his weenie little hands gently caressing the wreath as if it were his daughter's ass be released?

[-] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 16 points 2 weeks ago

Probably Judge Cannon... I have no proof of it but it tracks with their record.

[-] Mobiledecay@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago

"See I don't hate suckers and losers guys! 🤪🤪🤪"

[-] Badeendje@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Or was he giving a thumbs up that the loser is dead and not costing more money.

[-] MisterD@lemmy.ca 13 points 2 weeks ago

Mike Johnson pulled strings to make it happen..

https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2024/08/speaker-johnson-pulled-strings-to-get-trump-into-arlington-now-the-scandal-is-spreading/

[-] Etterra@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

"He's the former president, surely he won't... Uh oh... Well shit."

[-] collapse_already@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

I want him buried in a cemetery sooner rather than later. I 'd love for him to have a stroke during the debate and fall over dead on TV. Then they can bury him in the rough on one of his golf courses on election day.

[-] brygphilomena@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

He can get the same treatment as his ex-wife Ivana Trump. Buried at the golf course, cordoned off, and left to rot. With no one tending his grave and the plants taking over until everyone forgets about this taint stain.

[-] Nomad@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

The botched Afghanistan withdrawal that he signed with the Taliban... This was his deal that he left Biden to deal with the repercussions

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this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2024

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