Gold Star families rip Kamala Harris as she slams Trump’s Arlington visit: 'How do you sleep at night?'

WASHINGTON, DC: Former president Donald Trump recently posted a series of videos on X (formerly Twitter) featuring Gold Star parents whose children died during the United States' chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The grieving parents directed their anger at Vice President Kamala Harris, holding her and the Joe Biden administration responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. These accusations come in the wake of a heated exchange between Harris and Trump centered around a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Kamala Harris criticizes Donald Trump's Arlington cemetery visit

Vice President Kamala Harris sparked outrage by slamming Donald Trump for what she described as a “political stunt” at Arlington National Cemetery.

On Saturday, August 31, she took to social media to accuse Trump of disrespecting “sacred ground” by bringing photographers to a wreath-laying ceremony that honored the 13 US service members who were killed in an ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul Airport on August 26, 2021.

The incident in question took place at Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where three of the 13 service members who died in the Kabul attack are buried. While taking pictures at the cemetery is not prohibited, federal law strictly forbids campaign activities from occurring on such grounds.

Reports surfaced that during Trump’s visit, a cemetery staffer attempting to prevent photographers from entering the area was allegedly “abruptly pushed aside.” However, family members of the fallen service members strongly denied these allegations, pointing out that they had invited Trump and requested the photos and videos themselves.

Darin Hoover—the father of Staff Sgt Taylor Hoover—clarified, “We invited President Trump, we are the ones who asked for the video and the pictures to be taken.”

“There was also not an assault that we observed take place, [nor] did we hear it. I don’t know where this is coming from but it’s disgusting and gross,” Hoover added. “Our sons and daughters made the best of a difficult situation, as they had been trained to do, they adapted and overcame all of that and came out as heroes.”

Gold Star families lash out at Kamala Harris for slamming Donald Trump

The videos posted by Donald Trump featured poignant messages from the parents of the fallen service members, the New York Post reported.

Jim McCollum—the father of US Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee J McCollum—directly confronted Harris. “Your recent remarks related to Trump’s recent visit to Arlington are filled with nothing but lies and deceit,” he said. “How do you sleep at night knowing… you are responsible for the death of our 13 kids?" he asked.

“You have failed for three years and eight months to acknowledge our kids, to acknowledge me, you don’t know me, you’ve never spoken to me,” McCollum added.

Similarly, Christy Shamblin—mother-in-law of Sergeant Nicole Gee—challenged Harris’ lack of communication with the families.

“President Trump and his team were respectful, they listened to our stories and didn’t talk much at all,” she said. “Vice President Harris, I ask you, why won’t you return a call and explain to us how you call my daughter-in-law’s death a success?”

The sentiment was echoed by Mark Schmitz, father of Lance Corporal Jared M Schmitz. “You have thirteen families who’ve been waiting over three years to so much as get a phone call… you’ve spit in our face for the last f**king time,” Schmitz said.

Jared’s mother Jaclyn Schmitz also had a scathing message to Harris. “Kamala your statement is nothing more than a political spin to help you look better in your presidential campaign against Donald Trump,” she said in a video post.

“You have never walked a single day in our shoes. Our kids were murdered because of your administration. And, you are partly to blame for that as well. What happened at Arlington – President Trump was invited by those families who have their soldiers buried at Arlington.”

Jaclyn noted the “one thing” Harris said in her statement that was true. “No one should be running for president if they cannot honor military members, their families, as well as veterans. So, I guess that means you should step down Kamala.”

Steve Nikoui, the father of Lance Corporal Kareem M Nikoui, accused the Biden administration of neglect, stating, “Your administration killed my son,” before adding that Harris “was not at Dover for the dignified transfer… not once have you honored him by saying his name.”

Herman Lopez, father of Corporal Hunter Lopez, expressed similar sentiments. “It’s been three years since my son was killed in action and myself, my family and other Gold Star families have not seen any support from you or your administration,” he said.

Kamala Harris faces political backlash

The controversy has also drawn strong reactions from political rivals like Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance, who recently blasted Kamala Harris during a campaign rally for criticizing Donald Trump's Arlington visit.

“Kamala can go to hell,” Vance declared. “The other thing that our veterans care more about is that three years ago, 13 brave, innocent Americans died. And they died because Kamala Harris refused to do her job and there hasn’t been a single investigation or a single firing,” he said.