WASHINGTON — An aide to Donald Trump pushed an Arlington National Cemetery employee Monday when the former president visited the site with family members of U.S. service members killed in the Kabul airport attack during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, two Defense Department officials said.
The Trump aide pushed the cemetery employee out of the way to get past to take photos and video at Section 60, where service members killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are buried, the officials said.
Military police were called and wrote up an incident report, but they are not expected to pursue the matter further. The cemetery employee does not intend to press charges. The police arrived at the scene while Trump's motorcade was still there, but they didn't obtain a formal statement from his team, officials said.
An Army spokesperson said the Arlington National Cemetery employee was “abruptly pushed aside” but does not intend to press charges, and the Army now considers the matter closed.
The spokesperson said the cemetery conducts nearly 3,000 such public ceremonies a year without incident.
"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 continued. "An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside. Consistent with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-aide-pushed-arlington-national-cemetery-employee-commemoration-d-rcna168768 