Gold Star families who lost loved ones in the botched Afghanistan withdrawal have spoken out against Vice President Kamala Harris for her criticism of former President Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Harris accused Trump of playing politics with the visit, but the families revealed in a series of videos that they had invited Trump and criticized the Biden-Harris administration for the disastrous pullout that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members three years ago.
The messages, shared by different parents of service members killed by ISIS-K terrorists during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021, were posted on Trump’s Instagram account. The families expressed their disappointment in Harris’ statement and defended Trump’s respectful appearance at the cemetery.
One father, Mark Schmitz, explained that they wanted a leader, not a political campaign boost, when they invited Trump to take photographs. Another parent, Darren Hoover, emphasized that Trump had been supportive since the beginning and criticized Harris for lacking empathy and decency.
The families called out Harris for politicizing the event and urged her to show more respect for the military and the citizens of the country. They expressed their disappointment in Harris’ actions and called on her to reflect on her behavior.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for comment on the families’ statements. The controversy surrounding Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery continues to spark debate and criticism from Gold Star families and political figures.
