Trump Aide ‘Abruptly Pushed Aside’ an Arlington Cemetery Official, the Army Says

The Army on Thursday defended an official at Arlington National Cemetery who was physically pushed by a member of former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign after the official sought to stop the campaign from filming in a heavily restricted area of the cemetery.

A statement from the Army’s public affairs office said that the Trump campaign had been made aware that federal law prohibits filming for political purposes in that part of the cemetery, and it criticized the campaign for publicly insulting the official in a statement after the fact.

“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,” the statement said.

It continued: “An A.N.C. employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside. Consistent with the decorum expected at A.N.C., this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption.”

The statement is the most detailed description so far of the incident that took place on Monday, as Mr. Trump appeared for a wreath-laying ceremony honoring 13 U.S. troops killed in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport during the withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago.

He later visited Section 60 of the cemetery with families of two Marines killed at Abbey Gate, as well as two other Marines who were severely injured in the bombing. Section 60 is largely reserved for service members who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and federal law prohibits filming or photography there for campaign purposes.