Trump campaign staff clash with official at Arlington National Cemetery during visit

WASHINGTON, DC: Two members of Donald Trump's campaign staff got embroiled in a verbal and physical altercation with an official at the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 25, during the former president's visit at the US Army maintained site to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony.

An insider source reportedly told NPR that a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staff from filming and photographing in an area called Section 60, where recently deceased officials are laid to rest. Arlington officials had previously clarified that only cemetery staff can take photographs or film in the area.

When the cemetery official in question tried to prevent the Trump campaign staff from entering the area, they verbally abused and pushed the individual aside, shared the source.

Trump was at the cemetery to attend an event commemorating the third anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan where 13 American troopers died in the ensuing chaos. He had already run into controversy at the event for smiling and posing for photographs with the family of the deceased showing a thumbs-up gesture.

Statements by Trump campaign and Arlington Cemetery

Steven Cheung, spokesman of the Trump campaign, rejected the claims of altercation in a statement, adding, "We are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made."

"The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and 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," he expressed.

Arlington National Cemetery opposed the claim in a statement to NPR, noting that it "can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed."

"Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign," read the statement.

"Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants."

Internet slams Donald Trump for alleged behavior of his staffers

Netizens reacting to the news on the social networking site Reddit slammed the former president and his team for their conduct and accused him of trying to score political points at the somber location. The following examples demonstrate the prevalent views.

"Leave it to Trump to not follow the rules and disrespect sacred soldiers resting places to get a photo op. Such scum to start a fight with workers there," wrote a person.

"Political theater. Lip service. Call it whatever you want, it wasn’t based on genuine respect for the military," shared another of Trump's presence at the site.

"Trump was attempting an illegal photo-op for political points...the orange turd strikes yet again!" jibed a third.

"I love that the excuse was that it was some sort of official ceremony. He isn't a government official anymore," chided a fourth.

"Absolutely, no shame. From the wanna-be commander in chief no less. Everything is a photo op with him," echoed a fifth.

"Grave desecration is kind of the lowest," slammed yet another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.