On Thursday the US Army released a statement defending the “professionalism” of the Arlington National Cemetery employee they believe is being “unfairly attacked” by the Trump campaign.

The statement comes as fallout over the reported incident continues after Donald Trump visited the site to mark the anniversary of the 2021 Kabul airport terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. military personnel during the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan earlier this week.

The controversy was first highlighted by an NPR story on Tuesday that reported an altercation between two members of Trump’s campaign staff and an Arlington National Cemetery employee. 

A cemetery official was trying to prevent filming and photography in an area known as Section 60, a solemn area for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, to ensure the federal law against politicizing cemetery grounds was respected.

Trump campaign staff slammed the Arlington Cemetery employee as “mentally ill” and a “disgrace” to the “hollowed [sic]” military burial site.

The statement, issued on Thursday, reads in full:

Arlington National Cemetery routinely hosts public wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for individuals and groups who submit requests in advance. ANC conducts nearly 3,000 such public ceremonies a year without incident.

Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside. Consistent with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption. The incident was reported to the JBM-HH police department, but the employee subsequently decided not to press charges. Therefore, the Army considers this matter closed.

This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked. ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve.

Respectfully,

U.S. Army Public Affairs

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that while the cemetery worker “filed an incident report with the military authorities over the altercation,” they “later declined to press charges” for fear of “retaliation” from Trump’s supporters.