Chris Hayes rips JD Vance for defending Trump’s controversial Arlington cemetery filming
WASHINGTON, DC: MSNBC’s Chris Hayes strongly condemned vice presidential candidate JD Vance for his defense of former President Donald Trump’s controversial visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
Hayes's criticism was sparked by Vance's effort to downplay the campaign-related nature of Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where filming is strictly prohibited.
Controversy erupts over Trump campaign’s filming at Arlington cemetery
During Donald Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, two Trump campaign officials had a confrontation with a cemetery worker over filming a segment in Section 60, where recently deceased US service members are interred.
Despite regulations prohibiting political filming in the area, the Trump campaign proceeded with its shoot as Trump paid tribute to 13 US soldiers who died during the Afghan withdrawal three years ago.
Just to be clear: Trump's team had to push back an official at Arlington Cemetery so he could take this unspeakably inappropriate photo in a section of Arlington where photos are not allowed. https://t.co/jOdmUxS8BD pic.twitter.com/PyXr8IZjUV
— petermshane a/k/a petermshane.bksy.social (@petermshane) August 28, 2024
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung alleged that the cemetery worker involved was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode.”
Gold Star families who met with Trump at the cemetery have defended the former president’s actions. However, Hayes criticized Vance's remarks during Wednesday’s episode of 'All In' on MSNBC.
Vance dismissed the notion that Trump’s visit was politically motivated, claiming that the camera's presence was coincidental. “There happened to be a camera there,” Vance argued, downplaying the filming’s significance.
Chris Hayes slams JD Vance's defense of Donald Trump
Chris Hayes expressed his frustration with JD Vance’s explanation. “Oh! Oh, there happened to be a camera there,” Hayes mocked. “How stupid do you think we are? He was just called to provide emotional support – a thing he does all the time away from the cameras. And oh, look at that. A camera.”
Hayes further criticized Trump’s actions by highlighting a video posted on Trump’s TikTok account just hours after the cemetery visit.
In the video, Trump lamented the loss of the 13 soldiers and criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Afghanistan, while footage from the cemetery played in the background.
“We lost 13 great, great people,” Trump said in the video. “What a horrible day it was. We didn’t lose one person in 18 months. And then they took over that disaster the leaving of Afghanistan.”
“That is a campaign ad film in Arlington, obviously,” Hayes reacted. He also pointed out discrepancies in Trump’s narrative, noting that “we didn’t lose one person in 18 months” is inaccurate.
“Dozens of US service members died in action under Donald Trump,” Hayes emphasized. “That’s been erased. No ceremony for them. No ads.”
